Speaking in Sydney after announcing his squad for November 17’s friendly with Egypt in Cairo, the Socceroo team coach was quizzed on the Everton star’s best position.

Osieck believed Cahill’s form in the blue shirt of Everton was a pointer to how he wants him used in the green and gold.

“Well, if you look at his performance at his club he plays up," said Osieck. "And he plays very successfully up and he scores a lot of goals. And why not use his potential in our team as well?”

The question of Cahill’s role has been hotly debated. Many argue that he’s more potent playing at the head of a diamond and in behind a two-prong attack of Josh Kennedy, Scott McDonald and/or Harry Kewell.

Cahill was even played as a lone-striker during the Pim Verbeek era although that move was panned as being a waste of Cahill's prodigious talents.

However, Osieck appears to favour pairing Cahill with either of those attacking three with perhaps Brett Holman playing the role of attacking midfielder behind the front two.

Which lead to the the question of availability of top line players.  Osieck said he was “pretty confident” that his stars will be available for the Asian Cup in Qatar next January – a period where most top leagues in Europe will be in the thick of their seasons.

“First of all it’s a question of whether the players are committed. And they are,” he said.

Osieck was also quizzed on the progress of one Australian player who is reportedly being chased by the Turkish FA.

Ersan Gulum, on loan at Besiktas from Adanaspor, was a fringe Olyroo in the 2008 campaign but is beginning to catch the eye in Turkey.

While Osieck refused to say whether the door is open or shut for Gulum and his Socceroo career, he admitted his German connections were keeping him closely informed on the defender’s progress.

Besiktas’s German coach Bernd Schuster is well known to Osieck and the pair have been speaking.

“Ersan in the last couple of weeks established himself in the first team in a decent league and I know Bernd very well and I talked to him, said Osieck. "Believe me, we don’t leave a stone unturned.

“It would ignorant of me not to have a look at him but as I said again it’s about development. Four good games don’t give you the indication that he can make it. I hope he will." 

Osieck added: “I know about the activities launched by the Turkish federation. They are going everywhere wherever a Turkish guy they try to grab him.”