Harry Kewell's chances of playing in Australia's friendly against England on Wednesday looked slim when he was ruled out of Leeds United's match against West Ham.

Kewell has been battling a hamstring injury and although he returned to training yesterday, Leeds manager Terry Venables chose not to risk him in today's premier league match.

Venables, a former Australian coach, had warned he would not release the midfielder for the international at Upton Park if he was unfit to take on West Ham.

But Australian coach Frank Farina was anxious that Kewell joined his 18-man squad's training camp and said he would speak to Venables about his fitness.

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