John Aloisi Says Harry Kewell Will Be Under Intense Scrutity When He Plays For Melbourne Victory Post by: Ronny Lerner 23 August, 2011 - 12:17 PM

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Harry Kewell will feel the blowtorch of intense media and fan scrutiny when he makes his hotly-anticipated entry to the A-League this season, according to former Socceroos team-mate John Aloisi.

Kewell became one of the highest-profile recruits in Australian sporting history on the weekend when he officially joined the Melbourne Victory on a three-year deal.

But Aloisi has warned the former English Premier League superstar that he won’t find the going altogether easy when he returns to Australia.

And Aloisi should know.

The ex-Portsmouth striker completed a similar move to the A-League in 2007 when he brought the curtain down on his 16-year European career to join the Central Coast Mariners before also playing for Sydney FC and Melbourne Heart.

The man who famously scored the penalty goal that ended Australia’s 32-year World Cup absence back in 2005 found himself baring the brunt of harsh criticism, especially when he became Sydney’s marquee signing and struggled to find the back of the net in his first season with the Sky Blues.

Listen to The Hot Breakfast’s full chat with Aloisi (6m 11s):

“For sure,” Aloisi told Triple M’s Hot Breakfast when Eddie asked him if the move would be tough for Kewell.

“He’s going to feel it (scrutiny) because everyone’s going to expect Harry to score every game.”

“Harry’s played at the highest levels, he’s one of the best players ever to play for Australia so people are going to expect a lot from Harry.”

“Can he do that? Can he perform each week and score goals each week? I think that’s unrealistic but he’s a good player, I’m sure he’ll do well for Victory.”

Aloisi also said that Kewell should prepare for frustration as he will be subjected to a lower standard of passing to the one he had been used to over a glittering career that has seen him play with Liverpool and Leeds United.

“He might make a run and then they (Victory team-mates) might not be able to give him the pass,” Aloisi told Triple M’s Hot Breakfast.

What are your expectations of Kewell when he plays for the Victory this season?

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