Brisbane coach Ange Postecoglou has declared Roar skipper Matt McKay should not only be in the Socceroos' Asian Cup squad, but start in the Australian midfield next month in Qatar.
Postecoglou on Monday rated the influential McKay the A-League's form midfielder in leading the dominant Roar to the top of the table through a record 18-game unbeaten streak.
The 27-year-old has been a fringe Socceroo over the past four years but his coach believes he should slot in alongside the likes of Jason Culina and Tim Cahill in Australia's opening match against India in Qatar on January 10.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"He's been a stand-out all year, he's led the team well and I'm 100 per cent certain he'll be a part of the Asian Cup squad," Postecoglou said.
"And to be honest the way he's playing I'll be very surprised if he doesn't push for a spot in the starting team there because he's taken his football to another level.
"I think, as a midfielder, there wouldn't be a better player going around."
Socceroos coach Holger Osieck will finalise his 23-man squad on Tuesday and Gold Coast skipper Culina and McKay are likely to be two of the first A-League players chosen.
Both south Queensland clubs, who played out a dramatic 2-2 draw on a waterlogged Suncorp Stadium on Sunday night, expect to be without their midfield generals for all of next month.
With a nine-point competition lead, the Roar have the luxury of dropping a couple of games and still keeping top place but Postecoglou won't ease off his players.
"There's no doubt we're in a good position and in the driving seat and last night probably cemented that even more," Postecoglou said.
"There's seven games to go (and) we don't want to limp into the finals."
United, mainly through the superb work of goalkeeper Glen Moss, held on for a gutsy draw against the Roar to be within striking distance of second place.
They are fourth on the ladder, just three points adrift of Adelaide United but with two games in hand and 10 matches overall to play.
Yet without the creativity of Culina in January, the Coast have a battle on its hands to be competitive in the front half to score goals and win matches.
"On one hand I am excited to be a part of another Asian Cup and on the other hand I'm a little disappointed because I am going to leave the boys behind," Culina said.
"We have spoken about this the last couple of weeks and they all need to stand up and every player is important.
"We have enough depth to continue what we are doing and working hard, we will be right."
United's next confrontation is at home against Perth next Monday, while the Roar takes on its nearest ladder-rival Adelaide at Hindmarsh Stadium on Sunday.
