Carle hopes to impress Verbeek

Not out of place ... Nicky Carle in action for Crystal Palace (Getty Images)

In-form Nicky Carle isn't into self-promotion but he has a message for a yet-to-be convinced national team boss Pim Verbeek: "I'm ready to play for Australia any time you want me."

• Carle side-steps controversy
• Verbeek and the Carle enigma

Largely ignored by Verbeek since his appointment just over a year ago, Carle hasn't played a single minute of Australia's World Cup qualification campaign and was even urged by the Dutchman to quit the hurly-burly of England's Championship to enhance his national team prospects.

That advice met with a terse riposte from feisty Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock, while Carle was careful to dodge the debate and instead let his performances speak for him.

They have been yelling loud and clear over the past few weeks, with Carle, who has started 21 times for the promotion-chasing Londoners this season, becoming increasingly influential in a side that have won four of their last five to move within a point of the play-off places.

Living proof that vision, creativity and a swag bag of trickery can shine bright in the combat zone-like demands of the Championship, Carle is ever hopeful he will soon add to the seven caps he has garnered for his country.

While acknowledging he will find it hard to force his way into a midfield maelstrom dominated by the likes of Tim Cahill, Mark Bresciano, Jason Culina, Brett Holman and Harry Kewell, Carle told The World Game: "It's never easy when you are competing for places which such good players but I genuinely believe I have something to offer and I'm ready to show what I can do any time Pim wants to call me.

"I have confidence in my ability, I know what I can do and I don't believe I'd feel out of place. I'm feeling as fit as ever and I feel the sharpness is there too, although I'd like to be getting among the goals for my club.

"People underestimate the standard of the Championship. There are some superb players in this division, players from England and also overseas, and you have to play in it to appreciate that sometimes."

With his game built on balance, crisp pacing, silky turns and deft distribution, he is convinced he can adapt to the demands of any coach.

Unwilling to buy into the argument over whether his international future would be better served where he playing on the continent, he added: "Obviously Neil Warnock likes us to play a certain way and while that might mean I don't see as much of the ball as I'd like at times it's proving effective and I'm enjoying learning a different way of playing."

The 27-year-old former A-League player of the year, who had short spells with Turkish outfit Genclerbirligi and then Bristol City after leaving Newcastle Jets added: "That doesn't mean though that I couldn't adapt to how Australia play, were I to get the call.

"It's a different way again but I think versatility is a good thing and it's something I've definitely added to my game since coming to England."

Despite Verbeek's withering assessment of the Championship, gleaned from the observations of his assistant coach and eyes and ears in Europe Henk Duut, Carle maintains he is happy in London and fully intends to complete the remaining three-and-half years of his deal at Palace.

"The gaffer (Warnock) is great to work with," he added. "He's one of the funniest coaches I've ever worked with and training is never boring. I think he gets the best out of his players and I know we have the quality in the team to win promotion, although this is a league where you can't relax for a second because the bottom team can beat the top team at any given time."

Carle came within one match of a place in the Premier League last season, finally losing out to fellow Socceroo Richard Garcia's Hull City in a pivotal play-off. He'd love another crack at the promised land.

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