Lucas Neill Takes Off

THE Socceroos’ overseas superstars are preparing for a whirlwind week, with all of the big names booked on Melbourne-bound flights for Wednesday’s opening World Cup qualifier against Qatar.

Lucas Neill, Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell are scheduled on the earliest possible Qantas flights after their Premiership fixtures tomorrow morning, as is Italian-based Mark Bresciano.

Injury permitting, the English trio, along with Brett Emerton, will fly out of London on Sunday morning UK time and arrive in Melbourne late Monday evening.

Football Federation Australia is taking precautions to ensure the players arrive fit, and return to their clubs in tip-top shape.

Most will be upgraded to first class, and FFA’s head of medical services Dr Jeff Steinweg is flying to London, where he will examine all players before flying with the group that includes Neill, Cahill, Kewell and Emerton.

Socceroos physio Phil Coles will accompany them on their return flights to Europe.

Neill will captain West Ham away to Wigan tonight before returning for the Qatar clash, then return to London just over 24 hours before the Hammers play Birmingham City.

“It is probably tougher than what everyone expected when we moved into Asia. Now as a player you’ve just get on with it,” Neill told ESPN’s SportsCenter.

“For years now Australians who have been plying their trade in Europe have been used to long-haul travel and playing games with short notice, so it’s no different now I’ve been doing it for 10 years.”

Meanwhile, it is understood Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek would prefer the Telstra Dome roof to be open on Wednesday night.

Qatar would prefer it closed, particularly if it rains.

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The Asian Football Federation match commissioner will have the final say.

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