Harry Kewell's home in England was under threat when thieves armed with machetes attempted break in.

Kewell was on duty in Turkey for Galatasaray with his wife Sheree Murphy at the time but Murphy's mother and the couple's there children were at the house at the time of the attack.

It is understood that Murphy's mother saw the burglars in the garden and used the alarm system to scare them off.

"It was terrifying," Murphy told the Daily Mirror.

"They jumped over our gates and were trying to kick the door in then they started attacking the door with knives.

"Luckily mum spotted them coming into the garden, otherwise they would have been inside.

"Mum was so brave and managed to bolt the door as they were booting it, but the lock was coming away.

"Even when they saw her, they didn't stop. It made them more determined to get in."