Neill included in Australian team despite injury

Published May. 24, 2011 2:50 a.m. ET

foxsports

Galatasaray midfielder Lucas Neill has been named in the Australian squad for next month's football friendlies against New Zealand and Serbia despite missing the latter part of the Turkish season with a groin injury.

Neill is joined in the 23-man Socceroos squad named Tuesday by coach Holger Osieck by midfielder Brett Emerton, who scored a crucial goal for Blackburn Rovers last weekend as they avoided relegation from the English Premier League.

Overseas-based players Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell, David Carney and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer are not included in the squad because of injuries.

The squad includes 12 players who were involved in Australia's recent 2-1 win over Germany.

Australia will play New Zealand at Adelaide on June 5 and Serbia at Melbourne on June 7.

In Schwarzer's absence, Adam Federici, Mitchell Langerak and Nathan Coe will vie for the starting goalkeeper's spot. Melbourne striker Archie Thompson, who has been in good form in the Asian Champions League, has been named for the first time in an Australian team coached by Osieck.

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Australia squad: Alex Brosque, Nathan Coe, Brett Emerton, Adam Federici, Brett Holman, Mile Jedinak, Josh Kennedy, Neil Kilkenny, Robbie Kruse, Mitchell Langerak, Jon McKain, Matt McKay, Mark Milligan, Lucas Neill, Sasa Ognenovski, Matthew Spiranovic, Archie Thompson, James Troisi, Carl Valeri, Dario Vidosic, Rhys Williams, Luke Wilkshire, Michael Zullo.