Kewell to miss Socceroos selection again

DeVere's Korean club Gyeongnam FC tweeted that the ex-Brisbane Roar defender has been selected for the international against Lebanon on 6 September and the World Cup qualifier against Jordan six days later.

"YES. Luke DeVerehas been called up," the club confirmed, shortly after posting its initial announcement.

Osieck is also scouring Europe looking at potential bolters on the road to Brazil 2014.

His team of assistants – Aurelio Vidmar, Robbie Hooker and Tony Franken – are crisscrossing the continent and the UK seeking to unearth any unpolished gems that may have evaded their detection and could possibly be fast-tracked into contention for senior call-ups.

While they delve into the future, the clubless Kewell, who turns 34 next month, is working to make sure he does not become the past as he battles to find a new employer to keep his international career alive.

He was not selected for the disappointing 3-1 loss to Scotland earlier this month and won’t find favour with Osieck again until his club future is resolved.

Kewell is aware of the dilemma and met with Stoke City coach Tony Pulis during the week in a bid to reactivate his club career with the English Premier league outfit later insisting it would not be adding the attacking midfielder to its squad.

Criticised in some quarters for leaning too heavily on an ageing squad, Osieck is showing his willingness to embrace the possibility of adding fresh faces with his European expedition which has taken him and his scouts to Croatia, Serbia, Greece, Scotland, England, the Netherlands and Austria.

Even though it's unlikely there will be drastic changes in the 23-man squad named for the warm-up against Lebanon on September 6, followed by the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Jordan in Amman five days later, the German is spreading his net far and wide.

Osieck will also hand another chance to rookie left-back Jason Davidson after his debut own goal horror against the Scots, having been impressed with the 21-year-old’s maturity and forbearance after his unfortunate lapse after coming on as a second-half substitute in Edinburgh.

And a raft of other rookies are now firmly on the radar with Osieck and his lieutenants trolling through the data-base of overseas-based Australians and coming up with some names which have so far been a mystery to many.

In addition to fringe players like FK Austria Wien’s James Holland, Utrecht’s Tommy Oar and Adam Sarota, FSV Frankfurt’s Matthew Leckie – and now Red Star Belgrade’s former Melbourne Heart striker Eli Babalj - Osieck has delved deeper.

PAOK’s Melbourne-raised dual nationality striker Apostolos Giannou, who has represented Australia at under-17 level and Greece and under-19 and under-21 level, is being closely monitored. The 22-year-old, who signed a three-year deal with the Greek Superleague club a year ago, has yet to reveal his final allegiance but is known to being open to the prospect of a senior call up for the Socceroos.

Celtic fledgling midfielder Jackson Irvine – who has been added to his club’s squad for Saturday night’s (AEST) visit to Inverness Caley Thistle – could also make the jump if his progress continues unabated in Scotland.

Scotland-born born but raised in Victoria, Irvine was a part of Celtic’s double-winning under-19 team last season and made a cameo against Inter Milan during the club’s pre-season jaunt to Germany and the Netherlands.

He has represented Scotland at under-19 level but his senior international future remains up for grabs.

Former Australian under-20 international midfielder Steve Lustica, 21, is another attracting attention.

Currently on loan at NK Dugopolje, in Croatia’s second tier, he remains on the books of Hajduk Split, which signed him from Gold Coast United a year ago.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Massimo Luongo, who has jumped straight into the starting line up after joining English Championship side Ipswich on loan, is quickly making a name for himself and the Sydney-raised Australian U20 international is a bolter-in-waiting.

Former Sydney United rookie striker Tomi Juric, 21, who plays with NK Inter-Zapresic in Croatia’s top tier, is another on the list after previous spells with NK Lokomotiva and NK Croatia Sesvete.

And Dylan McGowan, younger brother of Socceroos debutant Ryan and also his teammate at Hearts, is being watched along with Fulham’s Ryan Williams – younger brother of Rhys Williams. Newcastle United rookies Curtis Good and Brad Inman are also in the mix.