Babies To Keep Sterjovski Home

The Age

Friday May 16, 2008

Michael Lynch

SOCCEROO midfielder Mile Sterjovski is hoping to shrug off the disappointment of English Premier League relegation with Derby County by helping Australia make it through to the final phase of the World Cup qualifiers.

But, he admitted, his chances of playing in anything but the first and final games at home of the coming four matches against Iraq (twice), Qatar and China were slim.

Sterjovski is due to become a father for the second time in early June and he told a news conference call yesterday that his child's impending birth would almost certainly rule him out of the vital away matches in Dubai against Iraq (June 7) and in Doha against Qatar (June 14).

But he hopes to be considered for the opener against Iraq in Brisbane on June 1 and the last match of this qualifying phase, against China in Sydney on June 21.

"Hopefully, I can get one game in before the baby arrives but we'll see how it works out," said Sterjovski, who will come into camp under new coach Pim Verbeek for the first time on Monday when an Australian squad packed with A-League players starts preparations for the May 23 friendly against Ghana.

"It looks like I will be left out of the away games."

He is one of several players, including skipper Lucas Neill and striker Josh Kennedy, who are in doubt because they and their partners are expecting children.

A key figure during the Socceroos' run to the last 16 of the 2006 World Cup, he believes that Australia has the quality to reach the finals.

"With the squad we have, we should be looking at winning these games. We have got good depth and good quality players. We should not be worried about other people but ourselves."

He is looking forward to working under Verbeek, having missed the matches against Qatar and China because of his transfer to Derby and then injury.

© 2008 The Age

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