Despite being taller than Australia's record goal-scorer Melbourne-born Leckie admits he has nothing like his attacking partner's prowess in the air, nor his sense of timing as to when to arrive late in the penalty area to get on the end of crosses. Ready and waiting: Mathew Leckie, a big Tim Cahill fan and the Socceroo who could step up when Cahill steps down. Credit:Getty Images But in other respects he, perhaps more than any other in Australia's squad, could have the potential to fill the post-Timmy gap, whenever that moment comes. Like Cahill, he plays with gusto. He is physical, quick and determined, strong and direct in the way he runs at defenders and chases lost causes. It is worth remembering, with all the success he has had in the past decade, that Cahill was something of a late bloomer. He had spent seven years in the English lower divisions with Millwall before getting his move to the English Premier League with Everton before the start of the 2004-05 season, just before his 25th birthday.

Leckie, who plays for German second-division leaders Ingolstadt, is still only 23. With his side seven points clear at the top of the second Bundesliga heading into the winter break it is likely that they will be promoted later this year and Leckie will get his chance in the big time earlier than the man he describes as something of a mentor. The former Adelaide United frontman looks uneasy when asked about his potential to emulate one of Australia's greats and admits that there is a long way to go. But he showed during the World Cup, when he was a rare unqualified Australian success, that he can handle the big time and top-level opposition and is not put off his stride by the pressures of being at the highest level. Leckie cannot say enough about how important Cahill is for the team and the influence he has on younger players like him in the dressing room and on the pitch. "He's a great player, he's always scored goals and had a long career. To play alongside him, and he's still doing it now today, is fantastic. He's one of those players where you know you are going to get something out of him in every game," Leckie said.

"He's a great guy, I am very close to him in the camp, he's a genuine guy, very down to earth and he's happy to give you advice and help you along. "He lets you know what's good and bad and tries to help you along the way. He's very positive, He's not the type of player who will be negative at any point, he will always try to find the positives. "Even in training, if things are going tough he will never have a go at you or say something in a negative way, he will always try to build your confidence and get you playing at your best. He's a very humble guy ... you never know what people are like until you really meet." Leckie is renowned for his hard work, his bullocking runs and never-say-die attitude. If there is a knock on him, it is that he doesn't convert enough chances into goals. He has scored four times for Ingolstadt this season, but only once during his Socceroo career. "If I take my chances I am happy, but I am also happy with what I am doing in games. I look at it and ask if I am creating assists, scoring goals or am involved in the build-up play to dangerous situations.

"I would have liked to have scored more this year, but I have also got about six assists, so I feel like I have been pretty consistent this season, which is one of the main reasons I have played 90 minutes every game. "I am pretty good in the air, I have a pretty good jump on me, but in terms of that lethal heading ability I don't think I could compare with Timmy. He's one of the best in the world. He's different class to anyone else and it's really hard to do that. But my only goal for the national team was a header as well, against Canada. I give it my best when I get a chance to head it." With the German season having a winter break Leckie got the chance to arrive in Australia early (he came in on Christmas Eve) and have a few days break with his family before joining the squad. He is in good shape and confident that this Australian side can shrug off indifferent results in recent friendlies and go deep into the Asian Cup knockout stages. It's a very different scenario to the World Cup, when there was little or no pressure given the Socceroos were drawn against Chile, the Netherlands and then world champions Spain. Now they are one of the favourites. But that doesn't worry Leckie.

"The expectations in the World Cup weren't high, and we had nothing to lose. Here in Australia, it will be different, we will have to take the game to the opposition and we should be one of the better teams in the tournament although it's a different game we have to play. We will have to create chances and it's not always easy when the other teams are sitting deep, it's harder than when you break away on a counter attack. "We are working hard on playing in tight areas and keeping the ball moving. Come that first game, if we do play to the best of our ability, things start off well and we get confidence we should have no problems. "We competed with Japan [in the recent 2-1 loss in Osaka] and the game could have gone another way if we put a couple of chances away. We know we can beat every team in the tournament but we know we will have to play well on the day."