Rafa's Wild About Harry

A goal in front of 3000 diehards in Warrington, may not sound like the announcement of the second coming, but for Rafa Benitez, Harry Kewell’s goal scoring return to action last week cannot have come soon enough.

The Reds boss is suffering his first “crisis” since taking over from Gerard Houllier in 2004. This was supposed to be the year that the long wait for the title was over. But at the moment it looks further away than ever. Following an off-season of heavy investment, Benitez constant team rotation has led to a dip in form in the Premiership, and his charges lie bottom of their Champions League group after 3 games. Injuries are piling up; discontent is spreading through Anfield; the wealthy new owners said to be not amused. Now Benitez seems set to rush Kewell back into the fray to spark a Reds revival.

Just last week, the Liverpool boss was full of praise for his Socceroo star, "Harry is very important for us. A player with pace and ability who can score goals is always important". This from a coach who was openly critical of Kewell, and his injury record, during the first year of his reign. Truth be told, Kewell owes Benitez, and in the final year of his contract he needs Benitez. After a litany of injury problems, most coaches would have written off Harry, but as the Liverpool fans famously say, “Rafa Knows”. He knows that a fit Harry Kewell provides his side with an extra dimension.

Kids in this country will know Kewell as Australia’s World Cup hero, but for those of us with longer memories, the sight of a twenty-one year old Leeds winger destroying the Premiership’s best defences is etched in the memory. Make no mistake; Kewell was exhilarating, and one of the very best. Injuries have taken a terrible toll on his body. He’ll never play forty games a year again. But in this day and age, he shouldn’t have to. Rafa’s selection policy is tailor made for Kewell, providing him with the chance to manage his body through this final phase of a rollercoaster career, whilst still having the impact to rejuvenate a sterile and predictable Liverpool attack.

The flipside of this Liverpool comeback is Harry’s role with the national team. As much as he may want to play ever game he can in the Green and Gold, the truth is Liverpool’s current need is greater. Australia’s resources are deep enough to see off the first phase of challengers in World Cup qualifying. Kewell shouldn’t be need, and should be allowed the time to get himself fit, without the added pressures of long haul travel and oppressive match conditions.

Worshipped in Australia; derided in England. But “The Harry Kewell Story” may still have a few chapters to be written.