Neill benefits from break

Qantas Socceroos captain Lucas Neill has dismissed any concerns about his ability to play two international games in four days despite his recent lack of matches at club level ahead of Wednesday night's Asian Cup qualifier against Oman at Etihad Stadium.

Qantas Socceroos captain Lucas Neill has dismissed any concerns about his ability to play two international games in four days despite his recent lack of matches at club level ahead of Wednesday night's Asian Cup qualifier against Oman at Etihad Stadium.

Neill made a fine return for Australia in Saturday night's 0-0 draw in a friendly against the highly-rated Dutch in Sydney in his first full match for the season following his drawn-out transfer from West Ham to Everton in the English Premier League off-season.

The 31-year-old is yet to play an EPL game for Everton and had played just part of one League Cup game all season before his impressive return for the Qantas Socceroos on Saturday night.

But Neill said on Tuesday that not only is he ready to back-up so quickly off his limited fitness base against Oman on Wednesday night but that his extended break from the game had done wonders for his body.

"I am delighted to have signed for Everton, it's a great club with a lot of respect but whilst here my focus is only on the Qantas Socceroos," he said.

"I am really happy to have played 90 minutes in the game the other night against a great team and it was perfect preparation for this game."

"I want to play for as long as I can (against Oman on Wednesday night) to get as much match time as I can to take back into my Everton squad and break into that team, which will be beneficial for me and for Everton."

"But I am feeling great, I am fit, I have been for three months and I actually think the extra time I didn't play has done my body the world of good."

However having said all that Neill would be happy to have little to do in Wednesday night's game when the focus will be on attack rather than defence as it was against the star-studded Dutch on Saturday night.

Australia is not only facing an opponent ranked 60 places below it at 74 on FIFA's rankings but needs to beat Oman to get its Asian Cup qualifying campaign back on track after taking just one point from its first two games when forced to play teams comprised of A-League players.

Meanwhile Oman is top of the group on four points with four games remaining with only the top two teams to progress to the 2011 finals in Qatar.

"I don't think I am going to be heavily involved in the game in that I think the game will be played further up the field," Neill said of the Qantas Socceroos' need to attack Oman.

"My role I would imagine would be to stop the counterattack and make sure we lock the back door and keep it tight to give the guys with more talent (in midfield and attack) the opportunity to express themselves."

"So my job is to help us keep that clean sheet (as the Qantas Socceroos have in 16 of their past 24 matches) and keep the ball moving quickly and get it forward as quickly as possible so the others can contribute (on the scoreboard)."