‘Club or Country?’ That has been a question Tim Cahill has had to answer throughout most of the 2014 season.

Friday afternoon at Red Bull Arena, he left no question his allegiance lies with Australia — and sources tell EOS that attitude may result in an extended benching of the player.

The Australian international jogged off of the practice field halfway through the team’s session Friday at Red Bull Arena, calling on reporters for his weekly interview. Once confronted about his place in the club and his international duties, the guarded Cahill held nothing back, making his priorities crystal clear.

“For me [balancing club and country] doesn’t matter. It is what it is. Coach makes the decision and he has to live by it,” Cahill began. “If they are upset that I go on international duty, I have stated before coming to this club that it was my main focus. It was stated to the MLS. It is what it is. I don’t make the FIFA dates the same time as every other FIFA date. It’s a pleasure to play for your country.”

Sources tell EOS the club is vexed over Cahill’s constant state of flux, and may send him to the bench starting with tomorrow night’s Houston Dynamo encounter. Recently, Cahill rode the bench against Seattle and did not appear in CONCACAF Champions League. He was, however, in the mix for the LA Galaxy encounter.

“If I can fit in the team, if I can’t, so be it,” he continued. “I’ll always make myself available. Last week against the LA Galaxy, I was a holding midfielder. The week before, I was a striker. So, who knows? For me it doesn’t matter because I am a professional. It’s not my problem. It’s the people that make the decisions [problem].”

The consternation is understandable on both sides. Cahill has been focused on Australia’s interests all season long. Not only was he the star of their World Cup run, but he is also being leaned upon to guide his young national team through the coming Asia Cup, which will be hosted in Australia.

Meanwhile, his club commitments are not being met to the satisfaction of the organization. This year in New York, Cahill has made 21 appearances, 17 starts and accumulated all of two goals for his efforts — a far cry from last year’s production. On the other hand, he has been as dynamic as ever for the Socceroos, scoring ten goals in 17 appearances under the national team umbrella.

Now, he is set to leave again for a pair of friendlies against the UAE and Qatar, right in the midst of the team’s race for a playoff spot. People within the Red Bull organization are certainly not happy with that prospect, but Cahill is quick to defend his decisions.

“I am 34 now. I don’t need to worry about people [telling] me about international football. Likewise with the club, I had it at Everton, and David Moyes, one of the most influential managers in the world, if I could deal with it with him, no comment if it can’t be dealt with here.

“Put yourself in my situation,” he continued. “I am 34-years-old. Went to a World Cup as the oldest player. My country looks to me to lead the team every time I play. Pivotal in qualifying. Pivotal in World Cup. Being a good ambassador. I led the line from the front last year here at New York Red Bulls every game. Put my body on the line numerous times and we won a Supporters Shield. The same I would do with my country.

“This year it is difficult,” he admits. “In dates, the amount of games I have had to go away and travel and still make myself available when I shouldn’t have …. everyone is happy when you do well in a World Cup — club and country — but when you come back and you leave again …. we shouldn’t be in this situation anyway. We shouldn’t be fifth and a point away from dropping out. We should be comfortable. If you look at the season, its down to our own fault.”

Asked if he has spoken to Cahill about his international commitments, head coach Mike Petke simply stated “Not at all.”

“I haven’t had a conversation with him,” he said. “It’s a different scenario all together. We are focusing on tomorrow’s game and putting out the team we feel in the right positions can do the best job for us.”

Those plans may not include Cahill — and the Australian international knows it.

“For myself, my mental focus is for the team and not for myself individually,” he said. “It is to make sure if I don’t play [vs. Houston] because of international duty, I will play in Qatar and the UAE. If I come back and don’t play again, I will address the situation. I am here for the fans and the club.

“It is not my problem to worry about,” he continued. “I have always been honest and stated from the start, club and country mean everything for me and this is going to be the biggest tournament of my life in regards to winning something at home on my home soil. I don’t pick the formation. I don’t pick the team. All I know is last year, it seemed to be going OK.

“I apologize to the Red Bull fans which some of them don’t really understand, but my [country] means a hell of a lot to me like their own countries would if they were asked to represent their country. I just feel that trying to keep everyone happy obviously works against you, but at the end of the day, 17 years as a professional footballer, playing international and three World Cups, and my third Asia Cup, it is what it is now.”