Kewell: Win or bust

Harry Kewell has declared that anything other than victory at next month's Asian Cup will be considered a massive failure by the success hungry Socceroos.

The bulk of the Socceroos squad flew out of Sydney for a training camp - and friendly on June 30 - in Singapore on Thursday with Kewell linking up with the contingent on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Liverpool star is not even considering the prospect of missing out on Asia's premier prize.

"Nothing but a win will be good enough for us," he insisted on Friday.

"Why else would we be there? Second best isn't what we're going to accept.”

"If that was our way of thinking, there wouldn't be any point in being there. Any competition you enter, you aim to win it. It was the same when we were at the World Cup.”

"Certainly the heat won't help us and being favourites puts us under more of a spotlight but we have to take that in our stride.”

"It's going to be difficult. On paper we'll be the team to beat we'll have to pull together as a squad to make sure we achieve what we're after."

Reinvigorated after a series of surgeries and a cameo contribution for the Reds in the final few weeks of last season- which included the UEFA Champions League final, Kewell is hoping the tournament will be the springboard that catapults him towards sealing a new contract at Anfield.

With his club future uncertain and other Premiership clubs circling, Kewell confessed: "I'll be giving it my all fighting for a new contract. I want this to be a big year for me.”

"I owe the manager. Rafa Benitez has been a massive fan of mine and I want to repay the faith he's shown in me.”

"It's been a difficult time for me with all the injuries since he arrived, the fans have been frustrated with me and I've been frustrated with myself but I'm feeling good now.”

"I just want to enjoy my football and not put too much pressure on myself."

While Kewell would be happy to end his career with the club he idolised as a boy, he's a realist, adding: "That's my goal, if it happens great but you can't put all your eggs in one basket. Who knows what the future holds?"

Kewell is relieved that brittle body - once in danger of being glued forever to the Anfield treatment table - is no longer a source of pain and frustration.

"It's been a horrible period for me over the oast year but the break has allowed me to step back and look at things from different angles," he added.

"It's allowed me to work on certain aspects of my game.”

“I still have the passion and drive to push the ball past people and run but with all the rehab, I've learned a few new ways of playing."

On his new Socceroos role as a central striker just behind Mark Viduka next month, starting with Australia's opener against Oman on July 8, he declared: "Graham Arnold has his plans and it's a role I like but formations change every game and even during games - so not too much should be made of that.”

"I see myself as a creator and a scorer - but it's not about me. It's about the team as a whole going out, grabbing it by the throat and showing we can take it to the next level.”

"We aim to go out there and play unbelievable. We're all excited and ready for it."

On the future of Arnold, whose tenure hinges on Australia reaching at least the final four, Kewell said: "A lot of people have been handing out stick to him already but if you don't give somebody a chance, how can theyimprove themselves."

"It's a big tournament for him and a big test - but it's not only about him and who's going to be the next manager."

"You can have one of the biggest names in the world in charge and still do nothing with it."

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