Kewell agent in Liverpool plea

Harry Kewell's agent made the admission yesterday that his client "has not done anything" for Liverpool for almost 18 months - but insisted that it is up to the Anfield club, and not up to the Australian international himself, to get him fit and back on form.

Harry Kewell's agent made the admission yesterday that his client "has not done anything" for Liverpool for almost 18 months - but insisted that it is up to the Anfield club, and not up to the Australian international himself, to get him fit and back on form.

The manager of Liverpool, Rafael Benitez, hinted last month that Kewell's representative, Bernie Mandic, and the coach of the Australian national side, Frank Farina, were trying to interfere in how the 26-year-old forward's various injuries were being treated, a claim that has been denied by both men.

Mandic accepts that Kewell has been unable to make any meaningful contribution to the Anfield club for nearly a year and a half, but as the club and supporters become increasingly frustrated by their £5m signing, the agent claims no one is as upset as the player himself at his loss of form.

"Harry is the sort of person who has got to where he is because he has always had high expectations of himself, and he still does have," Mandic said. "I don't think there could be anyone who is more disappointed about the way things are going than Harry.

"This is without a doubt the most frustrating spell that he has ever had. Since November 2003 - let's be frank - he has not done anything. He's not hiding behind that and I'm not hiding behind that.

"But what is he meant to do? If you have a contract you should be paid and I would hate to see someone not being paid. Would you simply walk away? That's ridiculous."

Mandic added: "It's been since November 2003 that he has had the problem and it's up to the Liverpool people to sort the problem out."

Benitez claimed on Tuesday that he is becoming baffled by Kewell's fitness problems, with the former Leeds United player unavailable for last night's Champions' League last 16 match with Bayer Leverkusen.

"One day Harry is OK, and the next he says he is unfit," the Benitez said. "We will talk with the doctor and try to look at his situation. We don't know exactly what the problem is. It changes each day.

"One day he says it's the groin; then it's the ankle. Another day he says he can play. We need to find the solution to this."