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.

Celtic’s Scott McDonald and Coca-Cola Championship players Nick Carle (Bristol City), David Carney (Sheffield United) and Patrick Kisnorbo (Leicester) are also in the 21-man squad for the game against China in Kunming on March 26.

“We have placed a large group of players on notice that they could be called up for the match,” said Verbeek, who has named a squad of players based in the Australian A League for a friendly against Singapore four days before the qualifier.

“With the short time difference between playing for the clubs in Europe and the match, we need to have options open for us if players become unavailable due to injury.”