Liverpool's attacking midfielder Harry Kewell will miss the start of the Premier League season because of a hernia operation.

The Australia international, who needed surgery on a torn adductor muscle sustained in the Champions League final in May, will be sidelined for five to six weeks by the unrelated injury. It is a further blow to Kewell who has struggled with injuries since signing for the club from Leeds United in July 2003.

Last season he was plagued by Achilles and groin problems and made just 18 league appearances. Liverpool's first Premier League match of the new season is at Middlesbrough on August 13.

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