This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Tim Cahill has reopened his row with Football Federation Australia, denying he has been approached to play in the A-League and challenging “big boss man” David Gallop to make him an offer.

Cahill and FFA have long been at an impasse over the governing body’s attempts to bring the Socceroos’ most commercially valuable name to the domestic competition.

David Squires on ... Tim Cahill and the A-League Read more

A war of words escalated in February following Cahill’s shock axing by Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua. FFA chief executive Gallop stated he and other parties had tried to sign Australia’s leading goal-scorer only to be told the A-League could not “meet his needs”, a claim Cahill firmly denied on social media.

It came after Cahill heavily criticised the A-League’s lack of vision he felt would hurt his career.

With his six-month contract at Hangzhou Greentown about to finish, the veteran striker is again pondering his future. But while reports suggest Cahill is poised to re-sign with Hangzhou or shift to another club in China, the 36-year-old regurgitated a familiar refrain on Tuesday in Sydney.

“I’ve never closed the door on the A-League,” he said in Sydney on Tuesday ahead of the Socceroos’ two-match friendly series with Greece. “It’s obvious that there never has been any contact with me... I never had a phone call.

“I’m very close with a lot of people in the league, but I can’t press the button on anything. I think it’s going to be left down to the big boss man of the league to decide what he wants to do.”

Cahill revealed on Tuesday he was carrying a minor injury but hoped he’d be fit for selection in coach Ange Postecoglou’s line-up against Greece.

“I’ve got a slight hamstring, but I’ll never miss a camp,” Cahill said. “We’ve got some of the best staff when it comes to physios and people who’ll look after you ... it’s all about just patching yourself up and hopefully I’ll be available for selection.”

Cahill is one of six Asia-based players returning to the Socceroos fray for the Greece games which, unlike last weekend’s 2-1 loss to England, fall in an international window.



His injury aside, coach Ange Postecoglou may opt not to play his team’s most experienced and prolific goal-scorer, having vowed to shuffle the decks in his last opportunity to experiment with his line-up before September’s final World Cup qualifiers.



Also at Postecoglou’s disposal up front is Greece-born sharpshooter Apostolos Giannou and Brisbane’s Jamie Maclaren, who made his international debut against England.



Cahill conceded it was difficult to miss that friendly in Sunderland, though he was impressed with Australia’s display. He backed the younger strikers to make their mark as they’re exposed to more game time.

“It’s about them being consistent for their clubs, playing and scoring,” Cahill said. “One of the biggest plus signs as well is seeing Maclaren do so well in the A-League and then getting the opportunity against one of the top teams in the world.

“When you’ve got a lot of games you can consistently score goals, then you come into the national team and if you’re doing well, the boss will play you.”