Crystal Palace's Nick Carle has set his sights on making the 2009/10 campaign a memorable one after qualifying for the 2010 World Cup with the Australian team.

The Eagles midfielder had not played for his national team in 19 months before being handed a start by Dutchman Verbeek against Bahrain last Wednesday, three days after qualification had been ensured following a goalless draw against Qatar.

"There's no better feeling and it's the biggest aim you could have when you are with your national side and being part of the squad is brilliant." Carle said.

"I have been working really hard and got straight into training in Sydney after the season finished and then went to Doha and Qatar with the squad.

"It's been excellent to be around the squad when we qualified for the World Cup and I just need to get some game time under my belt."

Carle did his prospects of making the World Cup squad no harm after featuring in Australia's 2-1 victory over Japan on Tuesday. Japan shocked the Socceroos with a first half strike, before Tim Cahill levelled the proceedings on the hour mark.

Cahill added a second 18 minutes later after Carle's in swinging corner found the former Millwall man and ensured the Socceroos remained unbeaten through the qualifying campaign and finished it with a claim to supremacy in Asia.

With a World Cup squad place up for grabs, Carle is happy for his country to have finally booked their place and only too aware that a good season in the Championship will do his chances of flying out to South Africa next summer no harm.

"Making the World Cup squad is a goal of mine for next season but at the moment I am just more of a squad player and it is up to me to make sure I do the best I can to stay in the squad.