Harry Kewell arrived in Melbourne this morning to a roaring fanfare at the airport. Melbourne Victory's marquee signing is set to make his debut in the navy blue strip in the early weeks of the season, possibly even in the opening game.

There is a strong feeling that Harry's signature will help produce a new generation of fans for the A-League. Instantaneously, our domestic competition is supposed to become more prestigious, a more desirable place to be a professional footballer. Money will come into the league in the form of attendances, memberships, and merchandise sales.

Having world-class Aussies in our domestic league will encourage kids to get involved, and a wider youth base naturally allows for a greater talent pool, and it follows that our national team should get stronger in due course.

Undoubtedly, having players like Kewell and Brett Emerton sign in Australia, when they could still be competitive in more established leagues abroad, does increase the stature of the A-League.

However, players such as Kewell must not be allowed to think of themselves as bigger than the game or that attitude will counteract any benefits they bring to the local scene.

The reason I sound that warning is that Kewell said two things in his press conference today which worried me.

The first was that the referees will be against him, because he's the marquee signing. This is contradictory to the sentiment that bubbles from Australian soccer fans at every World Cup: that referees throw lifelines to the strong players and teams, to Australia's disadvantage as a minnow nation.

Moreover, his attitude hinted at a little arrogance: that he is the face of the game. While all the other players are much the same and will be treated equally, Kewell be singled out for special attention by the refs. Not only is that opinion  staggering, it also damages the credibility of the league and its referees.

Kewell's other troubling comment - to me - was that key signings should not be afraid to sign for a ‘lesser' competition like the A-League because they can turn it into a great league. What he meant was: I can make this league great.

He is, in that regard, soccer's equivalent of Chris Judd. It wasn't too long ago that Carlton was heading for a flag merely on account of Judd's arrival. This belief endures today. On Sunday, Carlton's banner read "It's up to us," but boasted a huge picture of their captain. It was always up to them, but now that Judd is on the team, it's possible.

It can't be long before the A-League produces marketing of the same ilk. "See the talent of the A-League grow," they will tell us, with a smiling Kewell underneath.

Leaving the growth of an entire league to one (or a handful) of players is dangerous. How are youth players, or squad depth players, supposed to believe in their ability when progress is impossible without a Kewell in the team?

That said, Kewell is still acutely aware of which side his bread is buttered on. When asked about national selection, he is keen to remind us that he knows who's boss. "Holger will always have my support," he told us. When pressed about what position he would prefer to play, he confirmed he would play where the coach needed him.

It is in this capacity that Kewell proves the biggest boon for the league - with professionalism, experience, and an intimate inside knowledge of the way football is run at the highest level.

What luck for the younger players in the Victory squad - the ones who could be part of Australia's 2018 World Cup line-up - to learn the training techniques and physical exertion required and expected of a world class player.

This is, of course, on top of the financial windfall that great players bring. Having a Kewell around the place should be a massive lift for Australian football overall.

As long as he remembers the team and the league are always bigger than the individual, no matter what pricetag that player might have around his neck.