Harry Kewell says his body is in good enough shape to deal with a long pre-season leading into the start of the competition in October.
Arriving in Melbourne this week, the Socceroos star says he has been working hard to stay fit and be a competitive player.
“Even when I wasn’t playing, I was still working out six times a week. Obviously not to the intensity of a football match, but I kept on ticking myself over,” he said at his first press conference for Melbourne Heart.
The 34-year-old has played only three competitive matches in the past 15 months. He’s hoping the pre-season training regimen at Heart will fill in any gaps.
“I think I’ve come at the right time. It gives me the opportunity to work hard for three months solid before the season starts to get my body right for game one,” he said.
“If I get a good pre-season, stay fit, I can last up there with the best. The body’s good.”
Kewell is also hoping to win back his Socceroos spot for next year’s World Cup finals, but says playing well for the Heart is his top priority.
“To play good football for the Melbourne Heart, that’s first and foremost. Anything beyond that is a bonus,” he said.
Heart coach John Aloisi, a former Socceroos team-mate, says he is unsure of which position he will use Kewell in this season.