Kewell a doubt: Injuries force Verbeek to name 30 players

With Harry Kewell in doubt for the tournament on account of a persistent groin injury and other senior players struggling for fitness, Verbeek's last-minute switch will allow him the flexibility to select at least one extra midfielder and one extra defender, with another goalkeeper likely to be brought in.

The squad will be trimmed to 23 on June 1, less than a fortnight before Australia's opening group-stage match against Germany. However, an outline of the final World Cup squad could be known in the hours after the friendly against New Zealand on May 24, with those players not in the running almost certain to be left off the plane to South Africa. By naming a 30-man squad, Verbeek is hoping to run something of an elimination among the players in camp and during the friendly, giving fringe players a last chance to impress.

Harry Kewell Photo: Pat Scala

Verbeek finalised the squad during the weekend and key players have already been notified of their selection. All players will have been informed well in advance of today's announcement, set for 11am.

While there are no outlandish surprises expected, the Herald understands there could be a few bolters - none greater than 18-year-old midfield sensation Tommy Oar.

After beginning the year as an unknown with Brisbane Roar, Oar ended the season with a lucrative contract with Dutch club Utrecht and was picked to launch the Socceroos' World Cup strip.

Perhaps the selection that will raise the most eyebrows is the likely recall of central defender Michael Beauchamp, who was also a surprise choice in 2006 and is said to be on the verge of agreeing terms with Melbourne Heart. Jade North, who has struggled to win his spot with Norwegian club Tromso, appears to have nudged out Simon Colosimo.

One of the final places in the squad is thought to have been allotted to James Holland, whom Verbeek has identified as an excellent prospect.

All the Socceroos' mainstays from the past few years will keep their places, even though injury concerns linger over players such as Kewell, Mark Bresciano and Vince Grella.

Eddy Bosnar, Sasa Ognenovski and Joel Griffiths will all likely miss the squad despite impressing in Japan's, Korea's and China's top leagues respectively. Nicky Carle, who only recently won favour with Verbeek, will be named.

Richard Garcia and Mark Milligan look likely to defy expectations and make the 30-man squad, with Shane Lowry and Rhys Williams, who turned their backs on Ireland and Wales respectively, certain to be heading to South Africa. However, Matthew Spiranovic, widely accepted as the nation's most gifted young defender, will miss out due to his failure to find first-team football in Germany and now Japan.

Mile Sterjovski will be overlooked despite heading to Fulham to train after his season finished with Perth, while fellow Glory midfielder Jacob Burns, who is also training with the west London club, is believed to have only just missed the cut.

Curiously, Verbeek will name four goalkeepers - Mark Schwarzer, Adam Federici, Brad Jones and Eugene Galekovic. Scott McDonald will be named as Verbeek is considering using the lively Middlesbrough hitman as a key weapon off the bench - a role that could also be filled by Nikita Rukavytsya.

The squad

Australia's likely 30-man provisional World Cup squad:

Goalkeepers (4)

Mark Schwarzer, Brad Jones, Eugene Galekovic, Adam Federici.

Defenders (10)

Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, Luke Wilkshire, Scott Chipperfield, David Carney, Mark Milligan, Jade North, Michael Beauchamp, Shane Lowry, Rhys Williams.

Midfielders (11) Tim Cahill, Brett Emerton, Mark Bresciano, Vince Grella, Brett Holman, Carl Valeri, Mile Jedinak, Richard Garcia, Nicky Carle, Tommy Oar, James Holland.

Forwards (5)

Harry Kewell, Josh Kennedy, Scott McDonald, Dario Vidosic, Nikita Rukavytsya.