Socceroos call on Premier stars

Several Barclays Premier League players could be involved in a club-versus-country row after Australia named them in a provisional squad for the World Cup qualifier in China on March 26 which falls between two league fixtures.

Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, Blackburn’s Brett Emerton, Harry Kewell (Liverpool), West Ham’s Lucas Neill, Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, Mile Sterjovski (Derby), Reading’s Adam Federici and James Troisi (Newcastle) have all been named by coach Pim Verbeek.