Harry has been back in Australia this weekend to let local medics check his current groin injury, but initial fears he could be sidelined for months at Galatasaray have been dismissed.

As exclusively revealed by au.fourfourtwo.com last week, Kewell is now expected back training in two weeks, and playing again in four weeks.

His personal manager Bernie Mandic has hailed Kewell's Australian medics as the best in the world and blamed Liverpool physios at Kewell's previous club for prolonging his near career-ending run of injuries.

But Kewell refused to get embroiled in the row.

"I will tell everything when the time comes," he told the latest edition of the Turkish Football Federation's magazine Tam Saha, published today.

Instead he was focussed on his renaissance since quitting the EPL for the Turksih Super Lig.

He admitted he was wary of making the move to Turkey when his contract ran out after five years at Liverpool - but the move has sparked new life into his career.

And he has gone from being booed by fans at Anfield to being adored by the loyal Galatasaray faithful who have taken him to their heart.

"When my agent first told me about Gala's interest in me, I was very reluctant," he said. "But Gala showed absolute interest in me. I discussed it with my family and decided to sign with Gala.

"There was a huge crowd at the airport when I landed in Istanbul. I can say that it was striking in a positive way, I felt fantastic.

"Then from day one, everything has been great about Turkey. It gives me a great motivation to be appreciated like this. I feel like I was reborn in Galatasaray, and in Turkey."

Gala were almost forced to axe Kewell from the squad last week when a transfer window spending spree saw them with nine foreign players, one more than Super Lig rules allow.

WIth Kewell not signing a contract extension beyond the end of this season and carrying a potential long-term injury, fans feared he could be the one forced out and launched a capaign to save him.

But the good news on his injury meant coach Frank Rijkaard axed Shabani Nonda instead.

Although Kewell is said to have refused to sign a new Gala deal for next season - and has been linked with a move to Sevilla after the World Cup - he was playing his cards close to his chest on his future plans.

"I am very content here," he said. "The thing I concentrate on right now is my football, and how I can make the maximum contribution to the team for the rest of the season."

Kewell has been joined by Socceroo skipper Lucas Neill at Galatasaray this month when the defender was snapped up by the Turkish club after just four months alongside Tim Cahill at Everton.

And the move has delighted Kewell.

"He is a very good friend of mine," said Harry. "I'm really happy that he decided to join our team.

"When he called me, I told him it would be fantastic to have him here. I'm pretty sure he will contribute to the team. He is a very experienced defender who has shown his quality throughout the years he played football. A very versatile player."

Kewell also paid tribute to the managers who helped forge his stellar career - but not all of them.

"I did not learn or get anything from David O'Leary," he said . "But George Graham was an important part of my early career, he is special.

"In Liverpool, I had the chance to work with a very talented manager, Rafa Benitez. I had difficult times in Liverpool, he was always beside me. He trusted in me no matter what. But at the end of the day, we had to part ways.

"And now I have the chance to work with a manager who I admire [Frank Rijkaard}]. He was an idol for me as a football player. I'm very happy to meet him and to work with him here.

"I'm so pleased to play football under his management. I love his point of view towards football. I enjoy playing football again, because of Rijkaard and Galatasaray."

The switch to Turkish football has also brought a change in perception of the game for Kewell.

"In Turkey, football is perceived in a more personal level," he said. "People think of losing or winning a game as a matter of pride and honour. The system here wants to make sure that everything is done to win.

"But sometimes things work out differently. Football must be perceived more professionally."

But that personal level has brought a whole new level of fan adulation for Kewell that goes beyond anything he's ever known before, even in Australia or in his heyday at Leeds United.

The club has even changed its goal celebrations for Kewell. When everyone else scores, the club plays I Will Survive - but when Harry scores, uniquely, they play his new theme tune, Daddy Cool, and every fan in the stadium sings along.

 "They are truly amazing," said Kewell. "I thank them for everything. Most of all, I enjoy hearing that song play, for one thing that means I scored, the second thing that it's really nice to hear everyone sing that at the same time.

"But again I repeat, the team is the most important thing for me. I'm a team player and it is important to win as a team and win titles as a team, I'm ready to give my 100 percent to do this."

Now Harry wants to see Australia's own A-League reach new heights.

"Wherever you go, no matter what, the English Premier League is a different world, it's the beating heart of football," he said. "But that doesn't mean that you cannot organize a decent, competitive and strong league.

"In Australia, we have organized a five year old league. The Premier League is not our competition but what we would like to do is to build a consistent, interesting (in terms of quantity of spectators and rating), decent league."

And he wouldn't be tempted into the row over NRL v AFL or cricket.

He added: "I love each of them, but what I really love is golf. I love to watch and play golf. Greg Norman, a golfer, is a compatriot of mine, who is a very important golf player.

"But Tiger Woods is my favourite sportsman."

Thanks to Bahar Noyin for translating...