Jedinak hopes 'role model' Cahill resolves future

Australia skipper Mile Jedinak believes it is crucial that Socceroos talisman Tim Cahill keeps his club career alive because he remains a vital presence for the national team.

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With the veteran attacker’s short-term Chinese Super League contract with Hangzhou Greentown due to expire at the end of June, there is uncertainty over Cahill’s next career move as he pursues a fourth successive FIFA World Cup appearance at Russia 2018.

Whatever path the 36 year-old decides to tread, Jedinak simply wants him to flourish at club level so Australia can continue to reap the dividends from their all-time leading scorer.

“Timmy has been fantastic servant to the national team and he still remains a huge part of things,” Jedinak said of Cahill, who underlined his importance with a double in Australia’s 5-1 recent thrashing of Jordan to keep them firmly on the road to Russia.

“Having him around the group is great, not just because of what he brings to the younger guys but even for more senior guys like myself.

“His presence is very influential, and his experience and personality is really important for us.

“The younger boys look up to him and with good reason …they see him as a tremendous role model and a guy who always puts his best foot forward, no matter what the situation.

“They see that and they feed off it, and it’s great to see.”

With 47 goals in 89 appearances for Australia, Cahill has struck just once for Hangzhou, whom he joined after being discarded by Shanghai Shenhua before the start of the CSL season.

The striker is renowned for his fighting qualities, along with his goal scoring instincts, and is determined to play on until 2018, whether in China or elsewhere.

“We need to keep him around as long as possible … he keeps doing what he does and we all know what he is capable of," Jedinak said.

“But it’s also the other stuff he dos, the things he does off the field that shouldn’t be underestimated.”

Jedinak is inspired by Cahill’s longevity as he eases closer to veteran status himself with his 32nd birthday due in August.

“He is inspirational in how he looks after himself. He does all the right things and that’s reflected by how he performs on the field for us," he said.

“For as long as we can have him, we will appreciate every minute of it. His experience is invaluable.”