“To be a regular in the national team you have to be playing in the Premiership or one of the bigger leagues. Although the Championship is a very good league, the Socceroos players in my position are playing in the Premiership or Serie A... all big clubs in big competitions, so that’s what I’ve got to be pushing for.

“I’m really excited about moving to Palace because it is a big club and they’re always up there or there about, pushing for the Premiership. They’ve been there not so long ago.”

If Carle could drive Palace back into the Premiership it would no doubt impress Verbeek, who Carle says has been up front about the obstacles ahead.

“Pim’s very honest and he’s a really nice guy. He said to me, ‘There are so many midfielders. There’s an overload in your position, so it’s up to you to get yourself a position.’

“And I would agree with him. The midfield’s the strongest part of our team. It’s the hardest part to break into. They’re absolutely brilliant – Timmy [Cahill], Bresciano, Brett Holman, Vinnie Grella, Carl Valeri… Wilkshire can play in midfield and Harry can drop into that in-behind role. You have to be doing really well to win that position.”

After just missing out on promotion to the Premiership with Bristol City, falling 1-0 to Hull in the final play-off game, Carle’s $2m move to Crystal Palace should ensure he is involved in a promotion bid again this season.

Rumours of Palace’s interest reached Carle in the lead-up to the China game, giving him further reason to sit it out.

“If I were to get injured [against China] the deal wouldn’t have gone through,” explained Carle. “That was a big factor, but the major factor was wanting to do a proper pre-season.”

Carle asking his club for more time off between seasons was never an option, especially given Carle’s dubious reputation for avoiding the harder work on the pitch. And regardless of whether there’s any truth in that criticism – it was the same knock levelled at such notable ball players as Glenn Hoddle, Matt Le Tissier and David Ginola in their time – Nick is aware of how much a good pre-season sets him up for the rest of a long campaign.

“I’m the sort of person who needs a good pre-season so as much as I hate doing all the running, I think it’s very important. I hate doing it but I have to do it. If I have a good pre-season and get myself playing well for Palace, it’s only going to benefit my country in the long run.”

Carle won’t need to use the pre-season to introduce himself to his new team-mates – Carle lined up against Palace four times last season and helped Bristol City knock Palace out in the promotion play-offs.

Palace boss Neil Warnock paid the midfielder the ultimate compliment by having Carle man-marked despite the fact he had only played a handful of Championship games last season.

“I’ve spoken to the gaffer a few times now and he seems really nice. He’s known as such an aggressor – he’s one of those people that you hate playing against but he’s really for his team and you love working with him… like a Kevin Muscat.

“He plays a three man midfield, and I really enjoy playing in a three man midfield with three up front. So he said I’d fit somewhere into there, but it’s up to me prove that I should be playing.

“It’s a new chapter for me. I enjoyed my time at Bristol, I learned a lot, the manager was brilliant, the club was brilliant, but they got offered more money than they bought me for, and I’ll know Palace will be pushing for promotion.”

Moving on is something that Carle is only too familiar with. Since famously scoring on debut as a 15-year-old in the NSL and spending his first five seasons as a pro at Sydney Olympic, he has played for seven clubs in six years and four different countries.