A step up, but Cahill thrives on challenge

IT TOOK Tim Cahill one training session with Millwall to realise he had made the right decision to quit the ALeague in a bid to keep alive his World Cup dream.

The 38-year-old, who this week signed a short-term deal with the English Championship club where he began his career, hasn’t kicked a ball competitively since securing a release from Melbourne City in December.

Cahill left City after falling out with coach Warren Joyce and, in a veiled dig, said he already felt that he was in a more professional environment under the leadership of former teammate Neil Harris.

“I knew I needed to go straight away,” Cahill said.

“When you watch a Championship team train, the intensity is so high, especially at Millwall.

“When you train in Australia, yeah, it’s hard but it was comfortable and I needed more from it.

“Any Australian player who is playing A-League would jump at the chance of playing in the Championship.

“The A-League is not the Championship, that’s not being disrespectful, it’s just being honest. You’re going through the motions.

“The opportunity to be here was very hard to turn down. I’ve never taken the easy road.”

Australia’s all-time leading scorer last played for Millwall in the 2004 FA Cup final.