Australia name strong squad to face Paraguay, Bahrain

SYDNEY, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Australia named a near full-strength squad today for next month's friendly with Paraguay and the Asian Cup qualifier against Bahrain.

Strikers Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell and Josh Kennedy were the only players who went to this year's World Cup in Germany who were omitted from coach Graham Arnold's 23-man squad.

Viduka's wife is pregnant, while Kewell and Kennedy were ruled out though injury of the October 7 game against Paraguay in Brisbane and the Bahrain match on October 11 in Sydney.

Experienced defender Tony Vidmar was recalled after missing the World Cup due to a heart problem.

Young midfielder Travis Dodd, who scored in last month's 2-0 win over Kuwait that clinched the Socceroos' place in next year's Asian Cup finals, was also named in the squad.

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