This wouldn’t be the first time Tim Cahill has saved Australia. His forehead and boots have brought more football glory to this nation than any other Socceroo.

But if he came home and played in the A-League, it could be his most important contribution to Australian football yet.

Late on Tuesday, Cahill announced he’d been cut from Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua after its manager told the 36-year-old he was not part of next season’s plans.

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Cahill announced on Instagram that he was “heartbroken” to be forced from Shanghai, but wrote he would “remain fearless” and was “looking forward to what’s next” in his career.

On Wednesday, it was reported Cahill’s agent indicated he would sign for another Chinese club. He had reportedly been on a three-year $10 million contract in China. 

If the A-League has missed out on Cahill that’s bitterly disappointing, even though he would not be able to play for an A-League team until next season.

The A-League transfer window is shut, but getting the evergreen Cahill to an Australian club for next season should be Football Federation Australia’s No.1 priority.

It is time for Tim to come home. The code needs a star like him now more than ever.

Football was smashed in the television ratings, in crowds sizes and media attention compared to cricket’s Big Bash League over summer.

Cahill won the Asian Cup with the Socceroos in early 2015. Photo: Getty

To put it bluntly, the A-League has not created any widespread excitement this season and while there have been brilliant games on the park, it is not creating the same feeling off it.

That includes among non-football people and also football devotees, who prefer to watch overseas leagues.

No matter how good the football on the pitch, these people just won’t watch A-League games.

In 2015, FFA announced in its “Whole of Football” plan that it wanted football to be the most popular and commercially successful sport in Australia.

Whether you agree or disagree with that ambitious goal, if FFA is serious about achieving it, league boss David Gallop must do everything he can to get Cahill playing in the A-League.

Given his World Cup scoring record, Cahill is an Australian sporting icon. Photo: Getty

Big-name signings are FFA’s top priority for growth, and given it ruled out promotion and relegation, getting superstars onto the park is a surefire way to invigorate the league, as the FFA Cup’s success illustrates.

Not getting Cahill in the A-League would mean FFA had failed to meet its own stated goals.

His presence in the national competition would entice many non-football devotees and “Eurosnobs” into stadiums.

How do we get him?

The easiest way would be for FFA to pay the money. Give a sum – or a large proportion of it – directly to an A-League side to splash on Cahill’s wages.

Or there is the Harry Kewell option. When Kewell signed for Melbourne Victory in 2011 he struck a deal that saw him receive a pre-negotiated cut of the extra ticket, merchandise and sponsorship sales he attracted at AAMI Park. In other words, get creative with Cahill’s pay arrangements.

Harry Kewell’s Melbourne Victory deal has set a precedent for a possible move to Australia for Cahill. Photo: Getty

Since Cahill left to play for Millwall in England in 1997, the 88-cap and 45-goal Socceroo veteran has resisted the urge to come home.

There were calls in 2012 when he left Everton, and again when he announced he was leaving New York Red Bulls in the United States’ Major League Soccer.

His avoidance of the A-League is not dissimilar to the decisions made by other high-profile Socceroos like Brett Holman, Mark Bresciano, Mark Viduka and Mark Schwarzer – all of whom never played in the A-League (Schwarzer is still in the English Premier League with Leicester City).

While he has been a solid performer for Shanghai (11 goals in 28 games), it seems that an influx of money into the Chinese Super League of late has rendered the prolific Australian as surplus to requirements.

Mark Viduka never came back to the A-League. Photo: Getty

Enter FFA, which must do everything in its power to aid an A-League club to sign Tim Cahill.

He may be past his national team use-by-date but he’s certainly still capable of being a force domestically.

Australia is blessed with a strong group of striking options who should be allowed to have their time for the Socceroos.

But while his career may be winding down, Cahill has always been adamant that he has time left in the game.

He has repeatedly said he wants to play at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where he’ll be 38 years old.

The reality is, he would do more for the sport by playing in the A-League than as a Socceroo in Russia.