Viduka and Kewell missing from Australia squad

Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell have both been left out of the Australia squad to face Argentina in Melbourne next month.

Veteran Newcastle striker Viduka and Liverpool midfielder Kewell will remain with their respective clubs though six other British based players have been called up for the Socceroos.

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and Celtic striker Scott McDonald, who scored the opening goal in Celtic's thrilling Champions League victory over Spartak Moscow on Wednesday night, have been named in the squad.

West Ham's Lucas Neill, Wigan's Josip Skoko, recent Sheffield United signing David Carney and Leicester defender Patrick Kisnorbo have all been called up.

Elsewhere, World Cup heroes Mark Bresciano and Vinnie Grella have also been named.

Coach Graham Arnold has shown faith in the nation's domestic competition with five players from the A-League selected in the 21-man squad for the friendly at the MCG on September 11.

Forgotten front man Josh Kennedy, who missed all of last season for German club Nurnberg with an Achilles injury, has received a call-up, along with Perth Glory skipper Simon Colosimo.

Bresciano, who is currently in the midst of a drawn-out move to England, said the return to the MCG would be a special occasion.

'It'll be a very big game, especially against the team we are playing who are a world class team,' Bresciano said.

'I think this game will pull every soccer fan in Melbourne, or even in Australia actually, as everyone would love to come and watch Argentina and our own nation play against each other.

'This is the start of our World Cup campaign as there are only a couple of games until we get underway in February.'

Arnold conceded the Socceroos face a monumental task with Argentina picking a number of world-class players in its squad, including Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez and Barcelona young gun Lionel Messi.

'The challenge that we will face taking on Argentina is one that our players are looking forward to,' Arnold said.

Australia squad: Mark Bresciano (Palermo, Italy), Vincenzo Grella (Torino, Italy), Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough, England), Nick Carle (Genclerbirligi, Turkey), Josip Skoko (Wigan, England), Michael Beauchamp (Nuremburg, Germany), Luke Wilkshire (Twente, Holland), Josh Kennedy (Nuremburg, Germany), Brett Holman (NEC Nijmegen, Holland), Carl Valeri (Grosseto, Italy), David Carney (Sheffield United, England), Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory, Australia), Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven, Holland), Michael Thwaite (Wisla Krakow, Poland), Scott McDonald (Celtic, Scotland), Clint Bolton (Sydney FC, Australia), Alex Brosque (Sydney FC, Australia), Patrick Kisnorbo (Leicester City, England), Simon Colosimo (Perth Glory, Australia), Lucas Neill (West Ham, England), Dean Heffernan (Central Coast Mariners, Australia).