ABU DHABI: The UAE be warned — Australia talisman Tim Cahill’s ardour for playing for his country remains tacitly undiminished, despite his veteran status and problems on and off the field.

Cahill, 34, is the most illustrious member of the Socceroos squad primed for a friendly against Mahdi Ali’s men on Friday, having scored 35 times in 73 internationals since 2004 in an attacking midfield role.

Yet, he is currently involved in a wrangle with his club New York Red Bulls, who are reportedly upset that he is missing their crucial Major League Soccer (MLS) match against Toronto on October 11 to play friendlies against the UAE and next week with Qatar in Doha.

The former Everton man was also sensationally sent off just three minutes after coming on as a substitute in the MLS playoffs-chasing Red Bulls’ win over Houston Dynamo on Saturday.

Furthermore, to add to his tumultuous week, on Wednesday it was reported by the Sydney Morning Herald that Cahill has been linked to an alleged tax avoidance scheme in the UK. The newspaper claims documents show Cahill is one of 229 sports stars, actors and politicians who paid a total of £1.2 billion ($2.2 billion) into a film-funding scheme called Phoenix Film Partners LLP.

Despite all these distractions, Cahill is determined to maintain his focus on representing his country with distinction — and is looking ahead to the forthcoming Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, which will be held in Australia in January.

Of the Red Bulls’ alleged ire at his decision to favour country over club, Cahill said: “If they are upset that I go on international duty, I have stated before coming to this club that it was my main focus. It was stated to the MLS. It is what it is. I don’t make the Fifa dates the same time as every other Fifa date. It’s a pleasure to play for your country.

“It’s not tough for me. All I have to do is keep the fans happy and play well. Internationally, get myself ready for a massive Asia Cup. I’ve stated that from the start.”

Cahill has struggled for much of the 2014 MLS season, scoring just twice and providing two assists in 21 games. But his impressive record for his country — for whom he scored one of the goals of the 2014 World Cup, a sublime volley in the 3-2 defeat to the Netherlands — means he remains a major threat to the UAE on Friday.

Despite winning plaudits for their plucky performances at this year’s World Cup, Ange Postecoglou’s side ultimately lost all three matches at the Brazil showpiece to Chile (1-3), the Netherlands (2-3 and Spain (0-3).

Before last month’s friendly against Saudi Arabia, they had not won in their seven matches this year — losing six of them.

Despite leading the Saudis 2-0 after six minutes, the Socceroos still made tough work of their 3-2 win at Craven Cottage in London, conceding twice in the last 20 minutes.

The forthcoming friendlies for the UAE against Australia and Uzbekistan next Tuesday — both of which are being held at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi — are the final preparation games for Ali’s men before they take part in next month’s Gulf Cup of Nations in Saudi Arabia.

Defending champions the UAE, who will be without playmaker Omar Abdul Rahman for the friendlies due to a knee injury, are in Group B of the event, where they will play Oman, Kuwait and Iraq.

They will then play friendlies against Jordan on December 31 and Kuwait on January 4 before the Asian Cup in Australia from January 11, where they have been drawn in Group C with Iran, Qatar and Bahrain.