Tim Cahill has cast doubt over his future with Melbourne City, suggesting he will walk if he can't get regular A-League football in the lead-up to next year's World Cup.
The Socceroos talisman, who turns 38 next month, overcame an ankle problem in time to run out nearly 70 minutes of Wednesday's 3-1 win over Honduras, a result that sends Australia -- and Cahill -- to a fourth straight showpiece.
Cahill has been used only frugally off the bench under Warren Joyce this season, his first start against Sydney FC interrupted by the injury that had the country on tenterhooks throughout the final two-legged playoff.
Pressed on whether he would look elsewhere in the absence of game time for City, Cahill was coy but dropped heavy hints
"For me now, I've got to make some big decisions on the level of where I'm playing at and what I'm going to do," Cahill said after Australia's triumph.
"I need game time ... It's something that I'll make sure that either way for me I'm always going to play. If I don't, I'll find a way to play.
"I need to play and I need to stay fit. I feel great even though I've got an ankle injury and that's something I'll look at in the next few weeks.
"To get to a World Cup you need to be playing at the highest level."
Cahill's powerplay caught Joyce by surprise, with the coach saying he planned to talk to his club captain as soon as possible.
"I'm not trying to duck it but I watched the game and went to bed and I've not actually heard it from Tim himself," Joyce said on Thursday morning.
Joyce pointed out that Cahill did start in their biggest game of the season against Sydney FC, and that the club had helped him manage his body through the demands of the A-League and the Socceroos.
"I think Australia is one of the few countries, if not the only country who doesn't have any international break during the period. It doesn't help either party.
"I had a plan for Timmy in incorporating what I saw he would play a part in Melbourne City and how I thought we could help him get to the World Cup."
Joyce said that City could take some credit for Cahill being able to play 120 minutes in Australia's match against Syria.
"The fact we've managed to get him to play 120 minutes in one game without playing full games for us, because we knew he couldn't start the games for us. is a credit to the medical staff and the sport science staff here.
"He's fit enough to in spite of not starting a game and that's helped Timmy and Australia as well."
Cahill's has a playing deal at City that expires at the end of the season but also includes a year coaching next season which would be derailed if he left.
