Kewell cleared to play, fights for Liverpool football career

Liverpool's Harry Kewell (R), seen here in January, during a Premier league football match. The injury-plagued Australian star has been told he does not require surgery for a groin injury and he will return to England to fight for his career at Liverpool, reports said on Friday.

Injury-plagued Australian star Harry Kewell has been told he does not require surgery for a groin injury and he will return to England to fight for his career at Liverpool, reports said Friday.

Kewell missed Australia's 0-0 World Cup qualifier draw with China in Kunming last Wednesday after injuring his groin during the lead-up match in Singapore.

He returned Thursday to Sydney for a series of medical consultations. Reports said that after a full day of appointments, Kewell was told he would not require surgery.

Kewell underwent an MRI scan and ultrasound before he was cleared of serious injury.

A groin specialist confirmed that Kewell had a strain and could resume play in early April.

"I'll be back playing within a couple of weeks," Kewell told Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper. "The final reports aren't in, but it's looking great and it looks like I'll be on my way home on Friday.

Kewell said it was a "minor strain" that would not keep him "out of the game for too long."

Kewell faces a struggle to not only regain his place in the Liverpool starting XI but to win a new contract. His five-year deal is due to expire on June 30, after which he is expected to join a new club.

Kewell hasn't played for Liverpool since the club's shock 2-1 FA Cup exit to Barnsley on February 16. He has eight games until the end of the Premiership to convince manager Rafael Benitez that he deserves to stay.

The star has made just 93 league appearances for Liverpool since arriving from Leeds in July 2003 for 5 million pounds (10 million US dollars). He has so far only been able to muster 15 appearances this season.