With Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek announcing his preliminary World Cup squad next month, debate has never been fiercer on who should make South Africa.

In terms of attacking midfielders on the cusp, those touted include the creative Nicky Carle, youngsters Tommy Oar and Dario Vidosic, the experienced Mile Sterjovski and enigmatic Brett Holman.

The player many seem to have over-looked is an experienced and versatile EPL regular playing in his prime at 28.
Richard Garcia has been plying his trade in Europe since he was 15 and has been taking on the world's finest in the Premiership for the past two seasons at Hull City. But he has only five Socceroos caps to show for it - compare that to the unpopular Holman who has 29, while former A-Leaguer Carle has 12.

Garcia has worked his way to the summit of English football the hard way. A product of the West Ham youth academy, Garcia had to drop down the English leagues - first on loan at Leyton Orient, then permanently to Colchester United - after limited senior team opportunities for the Hammers.

After impressing in Colchester, a move up north to Hull saw a promotion for City to the Premiership. Two years on and Garcia can now class himself as a seasoned professional with hundreds of English league appearances under his belt. So why hasn't that translated into green and gold caps?

We spoke to the Perth-born utility player from the rugby league stronghold of Hull to dissect his long English career, life in the Premiership and forcing himself into Pim's World Cup 23.

You've been playing over in England since you were a teenager. How did the trip there transpire?
My brother [Michael] was playing for Canberra Cosmos and was being watched by an English scout who wanted to take him over. I was only 15 and playing state league football in Perth when my brother asked the scout if he wanted to watch one of my games. The scout came along and said he'd take me over to England too. I went straight to West Ham as this guy had an arrangement with the club.

You were then part of that brilliant West Ham youth team with Michael Carrick and Joe Cole, but were you disappointed with your limited senior team opportunities after that?
It was fantastic playing in that youth team, with a great bunch of lads, that won the FA Youth Cup. We all had a good bond as we grew up together. However it was tough to progress and get into the senior team which had the likes of Paolo Di Canio, Joe Cole and Trevor Sinclair. You end up thinking, ‘Do I bind my time or move on?'. I was always just on the brink of the team.

Your rise to Premiership player has been gradual and through the lower leagues. How do reflect on your time with Leyton Orient then Colchester United?
Leyton Orient was just a brief loan thing back in 2000 when I was 19 and still at West Ham, but Colchester was an important stepping stone. I got good advice from my agent and people around me who pointed out that I wasn't playing first-team football at West Ham so I should go away and play at a lower division and work my way up again.

How did the move to Hull City come about then?
I was playing in the Championship with Colchester and the Hull manager Phil Brown had seen me play. When I was out of contract I thought it was the right time to move and Hull were interested so I took a chance. It would be fair to say it worked out well as we ended up getting promoted to the Premiership in 2008.

How have you adapted to life in the English top flight these past couple of years with Hull?
It's been pretty tricky as you're going up a level. You need to adapt to a new league which is a completely different ball game to the Championship. You get more time on the ball in the Premiership, but you get punished for your mistakes. The Championship is more frantic, but obviously the Premiership is a tougher league overall.

You're suffering from second season syndrome as a promoted team in the Premiership - struggling this season compared to your first season up...
That's down to a combination of things at the club really. At the start of last season we were still full of life and eager to play in the Premiership. Plus last season some teams were not taking us as seriously as they should. We've had a lot of changes in the team this season, with a lot of players leaving and heaps joining. The manager bought in 11 new players at the start of the season. It takes people a while to settle and for the team to gel, so we didn't get off to the best of starts because of that process. From there you're not riding on a high from the start and that's been our downfall throughout the whole year.

Going into the final stretch of the season, what's the key to staying up?
We need more consistency. We have put in some good performances, often against the tougher sides from the top four or six teams like Arsenal and Manchester United. Then when we've taken on sides around us in the league and not done so well at all.

You've had a few starts for Hull this season. How satisfied are you with your playing time?
I'm happy with my game time. I was injured during the first part of the season, so getting straight back into the team after that was great. More recently I've been in and out of the team as the manager has tried to change thing up slightly. Now with Phil Brown gone we have to see what develops from here with the new manager.

What was your reaction to Phil Brown leaving? The manager that took you to Hull plus got the team promoted...
It is just one of those things that the chairman thought it was the right time to make a change. You never want to see the manager go or anyone get sacked. Personally, I always got along with him, but like any relationship you have your ups and downs.

With Iain Dowie now manager is that an opportunity to prove yourself again?
It's up to the new manager to pick the team, all I can do is continue working hard and trying to get a place in the team.

Have you thought much about your future beyond this season?
I still have another year on my contract at Hull so it is too early to talk about anything else. I'm more focused on getting through this tough relegation battle we're in and keeping Hull City
in the Premiership.

Do you keep much of an eye on the A-League? Can you see yourself playing back here one day?
I always watch the weekly round-up we get over here to keep an eye on matters. Eventually I'd like to come back to Australia and play. It has been a long time since I've played in front of home supporters, around 13 years in fact. It will be nice to go back and play every week in front of friends and family.

You're Perth-born, so would a return to the Glory be most likely?
Maybe, but I'll just be interested in coming home, be that in Perth or any of the other clubs across Australia. All the A-League clubs are a lot closer than being over 20 hours away on a plane like I am now!

On to the Socceroos, you've gained five international caps to date. Are you disappointed not to have gained more after doing well in England for years?
Maybe. I guess I was just flying under the radar. No-one really took notice until Pim Verbeek came in and saw me playing in the Championship and getting promoted to the Premiership. Pim came in and extended his view of players and broadened the players he wanted to see in the squad. I'm very grateful for the chances he's given me.

Do you think you get the recognition back in Australia that perhaps your performances in England deserve?
I play football as I love to play the game and it's probably the best job in the world. As for the recognition that is not something I look for. I'm happy to play under the radar. Obviously you still want to get recognised for the Australian team, but public opinion doesn't bother me.

You got the nod for a starting role in the World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan last year. Was that a surprise? How did the game go?
I started a little bit nervous with it being my first start for Australia, but it was such a proud moment for me and the highlight of my career so far. I had a good week in training and Pim said he was impressed and was going to start me.

How do you rate your chances of making the 2010 World Cup squad?
It's a tough one as so many players are pushing themselves to achieve the same goal as me, which is playing in a World Cup. All I can do is play well and hope I get selected. I'd love to be in the squad, but you never know.

Has Pim been over to watch you or spoken to you about your chances?
He hasn't been over himself, but Henk Duut and Graham Arnold have come to watch me. I know they're watching me and have kept track of my progress, which is encouraging. But you always want to do well for your club.

You're a versatile player, what do you think is your best position?
To be honest, I don't really know. Out on the right is most comfortable at the moment as that's where I've played most of my football. But I did play upfront for West Ham, which is the role I played when I joined them. They converted me into a midfielder, but I still enjoy playing upfront when given the chance.

With only 23 players going to South Africa, do you think your versatility could get you on the plane?
It might do, you never know. I guess it does enhance your chances to play several positions and I hope it helps me.

This article appeared in the May 2010 issue of FourFourTwo magazine. To buy back copies of this issue call 03-8317-8121 with a credit card to hand.