Monday 7 May 2018 09:25, UK
Tim Cahill has been included in Australia's provisional squad for the World Cup in Russia, boosting his prospects of appearing at the tournament for a fourth time.
Cahill was among 32 players picked in an expanded training squad announced by coach Bert van Marwijk on Monday, but the veteran striker faces an anxious wait before knowing whether he will make the final cut for Russia.
The preliminary squad will be trimmed to 26 or 27 players before a pre-tournament camp in Turkey later this month, and the final 23-man roster is chosen on June 4.
The 38-year-old Cahill is Australia's all-time leading goalscorer but has struggled for form and playing time in recent months.
He rejoined Championship club Millwall in January to improve his fitness but has played a total of just 63 minutes from 10 matches and failed to score any goals.
However, van Marwijk said: "He (Cahill) can make a difference, he is a player who will not be nervous to play in front of 80,000 people."
There were few shocks in the make-up of the squad, although van Marwijk sprang one surprise by picking uncapped Lokomotiva Zagreb defender Fran Karacic, who was born in Croatia but is also eligible to play for Australia.
Van Marwijk said: "Everybody knows that the right defending position, I don't have a lot of choice for that position.
"He is already the captain of his team, at 21-years-old.
"He plays only right-back and we don't have a lot of players in that position."
Australia is in Group C at the World Cup alongside France, Peru and Denmark.
