McDonald , 25, is yet to score for the national team in 12 outings and last night he looked like a player a little too anxious to get off the mark, noted Kewell.

"Obviously a lot of people have been criticised Scotty," he said. "It's just a shame he's not scoring as regularly for us as he is in the Scottish league.

"I think he's putting a little bit too much pressure on himself.  He's got to relax."

McDonald had an excellent opportunity to break his Socceroo duck in the first half. And in the second half, David Carney's goal could've easily gone to the Melbourne-born striker had the ball bounced off the post to him and not the Sheffield United player.

The lone out-and-out striker is clearly difficult for a penalty box goal sniffer like McDonald who's accustomed to a bigger second striker lurking with him.

But Kewell has backed the pint-sized former Joey to burst out of his slump.

"He's a great striker," siad Kewell. "He's looked well in training when I've seen him. Once he gets one they'll just flow for him."

Kewell didn't make excuses for the at-times disjointed performance against Bahrain but said the travel factor played its part.

He added: "It was very hard for us. It was a long flight. We tried with only a couple of sleeps. It was always going to be an uphill battle.

 "It wasn't the most entertaining game but again, we got the points we needed."