Cahill is believed to have flown to England to finalise his next move over the weekend.

As per Cahill’s trademark headers, the timing is impeccable – coming just days after the appointment of Bert van Marwijk as Socceroos coach while Millwall are beset by an attacking injury crisis.

It’s understood that Cahill had several options but has opted to return to the club where he broke into professional football 20 years ago.

The Socceroos’ record scorer will now give himself a chance of making the squad for the March friendlies against Norway and Colombia in Europe.

Cahill has stayed in regular contact with and worked closely with FFA’s conditioning staff, while van Marwijk well aware of Cahill’s qualities having coached Saudi Arabia in the same qualifying group.

As reported by The Daily Telegraph earlier this month, a fairytale return to Millwall has always seemed likely for Cahill despite the English Championship club publicly playing down the prospect of a deal.

Millwall manager Neil Harris, who was Cahill’s teammate at the club from 1998-2004, confirmed that they were in touch and his attacking stocks needed bolstering.

“I spoke to Timmy again, about various things to be honest,” Harris said.

“There’s still dialogue between me and Tim in terms of that, but that’s as far as it is at the moment.

“It’s happened where we have continuously missed a player in an attacking position.

“We’ve been trying to bring in players all window and it’s tough. I don’t think people really understand how difficult January is. It’s by far the most frustrating time, transfer-wise, since I’ve been in charge.

“We’ve been extremely patient, it’s like a game of poker. Good players are hard to come by.”

Cahill, 38, is a free agent after terminating his contract with Melbourne City seven weeks ago, but has been on the lookout for a club in a desperate bid to play in his fourth World Cup.

He is a fan favourite at the Den and was a huge part of the team that won the League One title in 2001 and made the 2004 FA Cup final.

Cahill spent time in Sydney and Byron Bay, where he continued to work on his fitness at his brother’s gym, before returning to Melbourne for his Foxtel Ambitions Tour, a search for young footballers with the chance to win places at his football academy.