A-League and Australian football news LIVE: Harry Kewell relieved as Notts County secure first win

Australian attacker Andrew Nabbout was meant to be sidelined until January, but was included in Urawa Reds match day squad on Sunday.

Though he didn't make it off the bench, Nabbout's speedy recovery is a timely one for the Socceroos with the Asian Cup on the horizon.

Read the full story here.

After another disappointing effort last season, the odds look like they're again against Wellington Phoenix soaring in this campaign.

Failing to sign a marquee and knocked out of the FFA Cup by an NPL side, the early signs aren't good for the Nix.

Can they defy the odds? Read our season preview here.

In his fifth game in charge of Notts, Harry Kewell has secured his first victory as his new side edged past Crewe Alexandra 2-1.

A 61st-minute winner from Elliott Hewitt proving enough to wrap up a vital three points for Notts, who now move off the bottom of the League Two table.

Kewell revealing post-match just how important the result and performance was for him.

“It’s a big relief,” Kewell said.

“We’ve been working hard over the last couple of weeks and the performances have shown we are heading in the right direction.

“I feel the second half was the best 45 since I’ve been here."

Usain Bolt has stolen the headlines, but Central Coast will be determined to earn a few of their own this A-League season.

A new coach, a rejuvenated squad and a superstar waiting in the wings should give fans and neutrals alike a reason to keep an eye on the Mariners.

Read our full preview here. 

Newcastle Jets put three goals past Western Sydney Wanderers in the first 20 minutes as they strolled to a 4-0 win in pre-season.

With an experimental backline, the Wanderers were made to pay with Dimi Petratos, Nigel Boogaard, Ronald Vargas and Kaine Sheppard all getting on the score sheet for Newcastle. 

Elsewhere, Sydney FC scraped past Wellington Phoenix 2-1 courtesy of a 73rd-minute winner from Aaron Calver.

Sky Blues striker Adam Le Fondre and Nix forward Roy Krishna both bagging first-half goals. 

Hibernian winger Martin Boyle is a man in demand at international level.

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has publicly declared his interest in capping him, but Scotland aren't going to give up without a fight.

Hibs coach Neil Lennon revealing Scotland boss Alex McLeish is set for crunch talks with the 25-year-old. 

"I’ve spoken to Alex and he was due to speak to Martin when I last checked," Lennon said on Friday. 

"I left it to them. I spoke to Martin briefly about it on Thursday and said night ‘you may get call from Alex McLeish...so be ready if you want to speak to him’.

“I’ve left it up to those two. Graham has come out publicly and he’s obviously very pleased with what he’s seen.

"It’s a hypothetical decision at the moment – but it would be down to the player’s preference.”

Australia is through to the AFC Under-16 Championship quarter-finals after a 4-0 win over Afghanistan.

They'll now face Indonesia for a spot in the semi-finals and also qualification for the Under-17 FIFA World Cup next year. 

Check out the match report here.

Socceroos winger Mathew Leckie marked his return to action for Hertha Berlin with a 2-0 upset of Bayern Munich.

Playing his first minutes of the season after sustaining a knee injury in pre-season, Leckie came on in the 71st minute as Hertha held on for a memorable victory.

That win has moved Berlin level on points with Munich at the top of the Bundesliga table. 

 

There's been talk of a rift between the two Liverpool stars, but the stats suggest a different story.

The pair have been key to the Reds fine early form and despite one or two ignored passes, have been linking up better than ever.

Check out the stats and Chelsea match preview here.

Goal has compiled a list of all the foreign and marquee players for each A-League club

See the list

The Roar have announced the signing of La Liga-experienced midfielder Alex Lopez for the upcoming A-League campaign.

Read more about Brisbane's new foreign acquisition

See every A-League signing and squad for the upcoming season

The Socceroos love and mainly hate relationship with VAR [Video Assistant Referee] looks like it will resume at next year's 2019 Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Asian Football Confederation president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said on Thursday: "Asian football is determined to embrace technology for the good of the game.

"And we are looking into the introduction of VAR at some stage during the AFC’s pinnacle competition – the AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates."

The Socceroos' recent World Cup campaign was marred by VAR incidents, including the penalty awarded against Josh Risdon in the 2-1 loss to France.

Australia's A-League was also one of the first domestic competitions in the world to trial the technology last season.

The Socceroos legend is opening up his own medicinal marijuana company.

Having decided to stay away from football, the Australian has set his sights on a grass of a very different kind. 

Read the full story here.

The former Leeds United teammates have both set their sights on coaching after hanging up the boots.

But Bridges has revealed to Goal his surprise at seeing Kewell make the move, admitting his habits as a player didn't make him appear to be managerial material. 

Bridges himself has an eye on coaching himself and will be an assistant to Luke Wilkshire at Wollongong Wolves.

Read the full story here.