Soccer: Oar the bolter in Aussie squad

MELBOURNE - Queensland teenager Tommy Oar's breakthrough A-League season has earned him a spot as the bolter in an expanded 31-man Socceroos World Cup squad.

The squad, which must be trimmed to 23 by June 1, includes an extra player, goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic, who will only come into the final squad in case of injury.

Coach Pim Verbeek chose to name a larger initial squad than the 27 originally planned, to cover for some injury concerns.

Stars Harry Kewell, Mark Bresciano, Brett Emerton and Vince Grella are among those battling niggling injuries, but all were named.

Verbeek said he was confident that Kewell, who has been affected by a groin injury, would be fit for the Socceroos' opening World Cup match in June.

Oar, 18, has been rewarded for an impressive Socceroos debut against Indonesia in April, to follow his sensational season with Brisbane Roar, which has also earned him a contract with Dutch club Utrecht.

Veteran defender Craig Moore was named despite being without a club since his March departure from AO Kavala in Greece.

In attack, Middlesbrough's Scott McDonald's poor scoring record for his country has not cost him a spot.

Nikita Rukavytsya also made the initial cut in an attack set to be led by the in-form Josh Kennedy and Kewell, provided his troublesome groin allows him.

The Socceroos have a buildup match against New Zealand in Melbourne on May 24.

Verbeek moved to allay concerns that Kewell, who was troubled by injury in the Socceroos' last World Cup campaign, in Germany in 2006, would struggle to be fit.

"There are rumours, there are opinions, but Harry will be ready," Verbeek said.

"The medical staff and Harry himself convinced me that Harry will be okay.

"We still have five weeks to prepare for the first game against Germany, so don't worry, Harry will be there."

Verbeek said Oar's emergence was a very promising sign for the national team, although he said he was not guaranteed a trip to South Africa.

"It's great for Australian football we have a player like him, just 18 years old, who made a big impression in a few weeks playing in the Netherlands.

"We can all remember the game against Indonesia, but still he has to show that he is not only a talent but also a great player."

The Socceroos coach said McDonald had been scoring for Middlesbrough and South Africa would be the ideal place for him to break his Australian team drought.

"So far he didn't in the national team but it's time for him to score some goals, so hopefully he wanted to do that in the World Cup," Verbeek said.

He also said Moore's recent time out of football might do him some good, after a "hectic" time playing in Greece, and he was definitely needed as part of Australia's World Cup defensive structure.

Australia
Michael Beauchamp, Mark Bresciano, Tim Cahill, Nicky Carle, David Carney, Scott Chipperfield, Jason Culina, Brett Emerton, Adam Federici, Eugene Galekovic, Richard Garcia, Vince Grella, James Holland, Brett Holman, Mile Jedinak, Brad Jones, Josh Kennedy, Harry Kewell, Shane Lowry, Scott McDonald, Mark Milligan, Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, Jade North, Tommy Oar, Nikita Rukavytsya, Mark Schwarzer, Carl Valeri, Dario Vidosic, Luke Wilkshire, Rhys Williams.

- AAP