Injured Socceroos midfielder Vince Grella is unlikely to take part in Australia's World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan.
Grella was on crutches after injuring his calf muscle in training for this weekend's friendly between Australia and the Netherlands in Eindhoven.
Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek said today Grella was in serious doubt for the match against Uzbekistan in Tashkent on Wednesday (early Thursday AEST).
"Vincenzo has had an MRI scan and it doesn't look good," Verbeek said.
"It is going to be very difficult for him to be ready for Wednesday."
Mark Milligan had more positive prospects of taking part in Australia's first match in the fourth round of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Verbeek confirmed the defender would travel to Tashkent on the Australian team's chartered flight despite being ruled out of the Netherlands game after injuring his ankle at training in Mierlo, near Eindhoven.
The coach rated Milligan a "50-50" chance of facing Uzbekistan.
Verbeek also expressed his delight that injury-prone attacker Harry Kewell was fit.
"Harry is fit, Harry is ready, Harry is fresh," Verbeek said.
"It is good to see him in the group. Harry is back."
Striker Scott McDonald remains under an injury cloud for the Uzbekistan game after being ruled out of the warm-up against the Dutch with a groin injury.
Australian midfielder Mark Bresciano admitted earlier this week his team was not sure what sort of atmosphere to expect in Tashkent.
"I've never been there before," Bresciano said.
"I don't now what the crowd will be like but I think we expect a hostile crowd.
"But that shouldn't play too much part in our preparation and our game when we're there."
