But it is unlikely that the club will bow to any demands for a guarantee of a starting position even though the striker is likely to be an important member of the World Cup squad should Ange Postecoglou remain in charge for the tournament in Russia.

Cahill stunned Socceroo fans just seconds after the national team had qualified for the World Cup on Wednesday night by telling a TV audience that he had to consider his position at the club, whom he joined last season, if he was not going to be a regular in the starting line-up.

The veteran forward is anxious to underpin his spot in the Socceroo squad so that he could go to a fourth World Cup, where he could seek to emulate greats such as Pele, Miroslav Klose and Uwe Seeler by becoming the fourth man in history to score in four World Cups.

Joyce left Cahill out of the squad for City's loss in Brisbane on Friday night because, he said, "we had been told by the Socceroo physiotherapists that he had an injury and was not available".

The Australian legend joined City on a $3 million-plus, three-year playing and coaching deal at the start of the 2016-17 season. This is his last contracted season as a player, with next year scheduled to see him work in a coaching role.

The rift between Cahill, who turns 38 in December, and the club reportedly widened in the pre-season when he did not start in an FFA Cup tie against Sydney.

Joyce explained that absence by saying Cahill had been away with the national team and had only arrived back shortly before that game.

It is understood Joyce met with Cahill and the other players who were not involved in Friday night's loss as they trained on Saturday. The players will have Sunday off, with business as usual on Monday.

"Tim is the club captain here and he is an important player but he's not been around a lot because of all these international commitments. We have had to plan for a league campaign without him being here, and other players have come in and done well," Joyce said earlier this week.

"We are trying to build a team here and a culture as well. I have told players that if they come in, do their job, do well and we win games then they will keep their place. You have to have the same rules for everyone otherwise it doesn't work.

"When he was here for the big game against Sydney a couple of weeks ago I played him in the first team, but unfortunately he got injured in the first half."

City insiders say that club staff have tried to stay in touch with Cahill while he has been absent with the national team.

The club believes that its impressive training facilities and medical centre has been a major factor in helping the Socceroo talisman to get into the kind of shape which allowed him to make such an immense contribution with two decisive goals in the Asian play-off against Syria.

Cahill made a major impact in City's FFA Cup success in his first season with the club, scoring the winning goal in the final. He started 18 times for the club in the league last season and scored an impressive 11 goals.

He has made four appearances this season in a campaign curtailed by his international commitments, starting once but not scoring yet.

If Cahill forces his way back into the starting 11 he will get until the end of April, possibly longer if City go deep into the finals, to boost his fitness and match sharpness ahead of the World Cup.