Updated March 18, 2017 23:00:19

Photo: Tim Cahill was instrumental in getting City off to a hot start before subbing off. (AAP: Tracey Nearmy)

Tim Cahill delighted both his club and country bosses on Saturday night, sending Melbourne City on their way to a 4-0 A-League rout of Newcastle Jets.

The Socceroos veteran kept City in control of the race for third place on the ladder, and a home final, with a trademark first-half header against the Jets.

Nick Fitzgerald, who replaced him as a second-half substitute, doubled their lead with a delightful chip before Bruno Fornaroli's late double.

But Cahill stole the show on the way from AAMI Park to two World Cup qualifiers in the next fortnight.

The 37-year-old hung in the air on the back of young defender John Koutroumbis, powerfully heading past goalkeeper Jack Duncan.

With Lleyton Hewitt applauding in the crowd, Cahill delayed his normal corner-flag-punching celebration to first serve an imaginary a tennis ball in front of the former world number one.

The goal would be music to the ears of national team boss Ange Postecoglou, as he readies the Socceroos to take on Iraq and United Arab Emirates in vital matches on the road to Russia.

The Jets resembled deer in headlights as City took control, coming closest to a first-half addition through a Fornaroli free kick.

Perhaps with an eye to his national team duty, Cahill was substituted after 55 minutes.

But the forward did not have eyes for the substitutes board, seeing his number called but initially refusing to budge before beginning a slow trudge to the bench.

With Cahill gone, City found the goals their dominance deserved.

Photo: The first of Bruno Fornaroli's two goals came from the penalty spot. (AAP: Tracey Nearmy)

Fitzgerald latched on to an Anthony Caceres-inspired ball to volley over Duncan on 65 minutes.

Then fellow substitute Bruce Kamau danced through the box to draw a foul from Daniel Mullen and give Fornaroli the chance from the spot.

He scored with ease, before raising a T-shirt bearing team-mate Fernando Brandan's name to recognise the ACL injury suffered last week by the Argentinian.

Fornaroli netted his 17th goal of the season when a loose ball in the box fell to him under no pressure.

He should have ended the night on four goals, only for Duncan to deny the Uruguayan after crosses from Fitzgerald and Kamau.

The Jets trail Western Sydney and Wellington, who play each other on Sunday, in the race for sixth place.

AAP

Topics: a-league, soccer, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted March 18, 2017 22:52:40