Harry Kewell v Ryan Giggs

Our Harry was back against Ghana. Captain as well. The flying left winger, compared favourably with Manchester United's Ryan Giggs in days of yore.

But while Giggs has reinvented himself as a wonderful inside player, Kewell has yet to rise above mediocre in that position for club, and more importantly for country.

When you think of Kewell at his best. He's influencing games, creating opportunities using his pace and skill.

For Leeds he was a magician time and time again. Occasionally for Liverpool he was outstanding. And even from his Liverpool days he has a goals video that most players would die for. Goals against Tottenham and Everton spring to mind.

For Australia. Who can forget his influence in the Uruguay home game? His second half performance against Brazil, Croatia, and even Singapore in the friendly before the Asia Cup.

All Harry's contributions of note have come from the left sided role he is a master of.

Last night, and against Singapore in the recent friendly, maybe for his health, maybe for the good of the team, and maybe because he lacks the left wingers pace these days, Harry played inside.

He may move inside. It looks like he will. But unlike Ryan Giggs, we've yet to see Harry control a game, make a number of killer passes, create opportunities for himself or get into forward positions to hurt players and teams.

Giggs and Kewell at their best were similarly effective as wingmen. Giggs relied more on pace than Kewell. Both have outstanding vision and footwork on the wing. Giggs extended his career by moving inside, with huge effect.

Can Kewell? Australia needs Harry over the coming years. If not to win the games, then certainly to add to our player depth.

But can Harry regain a level of impact that makes him an automatic starter?

Against Singapore and Ghana I saw nothing to say he is a definite starter, certainly not in the inside role he seems to prefer. In the Asia Cup his defensive work/energy was so poor, he was quickly moved out to the right wing.

Against Ghana I saw sloppy passes, a lack of time, and little advanced play of note coming from Harry.

Sure he did some good things, some nice things, but Harry is one of our finest. I expect more, more often.

I would like to have seen him popped out to the wing for ten minutes. One run, one creative play from Harry would have been worth the admission. And it would have given Australia one more attack, one more threat than we had. And there weren't many.

If Harry's wing days are behind him, he's still yet to convince his army of fans that he is "the one" when playing inside.

If Giggs can do it, reinvent himself, surely one with Kewell's skills can. But then again Giggs never missed as much football as Harry. Harry may be reduced to the Australia bench on more occasions than he would like if he doesn't show soon.

Is Kewell worth a start against Iraq?
And if so, as left sided player or an inside/midfielder come attacker?