The 28-year-old is now back in England after undergoing surgery in Australia and is anxious to get back on the field.

Kewell told the club's website, liverpoolfc.tv: "At this stage I'd just love to play against anyone.

"I'd go out there and play by myself at the moment because I miss football that much. I just want to play. I can't kick a ball right now.

"You've just got to work hard to get back on the pitch. You do get down but it's not a girls' game.

"I've had some great times in football but now I'm going through a rougher time. I'd played a few games and maybe my body was just telling me I needed a rest."

Kewell's last game for Liverpool was last season's dramatic FA Cup final win over West Ham, when he went off injured in the second half.

In his absence Liverpool made an indifferent start to the season but have now found form to move up to third in the Barclays Premiership.

Kewell added: "I think we've been a bit unfortunate in some of the away games because the majority of the time we've played teams off the park.

"Sometimes the ball just doesn't go in the net. These things come though, and I'm sure we're stepping forward now."

One player to have benefited from Kewell's lay-off is Chilean winger Mark Gonzalez, who has been given a chance in his favoured left-sided position.

Gonzalez finally arrived at Anfield in the summer after spending last season on loan due to work permit problems and Kewell says he has been impressed by him.

He said: "He's a great player, the manager wouldn't have bought him if he wasn't.

"It's his first year in the Premiership and that's always difficult, but he is capable of scaring a lot of English defences.

"Fair play to him, I hope he plays as well as he is capable of doing."