Harry Kewell Tim Cahill SocceroosGetty

EXCLUSIVE: Tim Cahill deserves Socceroos World Cup selection, says Harry Kewell

They were once the Socceroos most lethal attackers, and Harry Kewell still backs a 38-year-old Tim Cahill to deliver on the biggest stage at the World Cup. 

Both Cahill and Kewell scored crucial goals at the 2006 tournament in Germany as Australia defied the odds to reach the round of 16. 

Exactly 12 years later, Kewell is now a manager of English side Crawley Town but Cahill stills hopes to be banging in the goals in Russia.

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Included in new Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk's preliminary 26-man squad for the World Cup, the veteran striker has divided opinion over whether he should make the final cut considering a lack of club minutes over the past season.

Kewell however believes there is no doubt Cahill should be in the squad. 

"It is an interesting one," Kewell told Goal

"Tim has had a fantastic career. He has done exceptionally well for his national team.

"He does deserve to be in the national squad, to play at the World Cup. At what part, that is up to the manager.

"We still know that he is quite capable. He is probably still our best goalscorer."

Harry Kewell Tim Cahill SocceroosGetty

Though playing a crucial part in the Socceroos World Cup qualification campaign that saw him score an extra-time winner against Syria, Cahill has played just 157 minutes of club football over the past season.

Such a lack of game time has fans and even Kewell unsure over the exact role Cahill can play in Russia. 

"He is going to be important but I don't see how or in what part he is going to participate," he said.

"That is down to the manager."

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