Nick Carle is targeting success on two fronts this season, with promotion to the Premiership and a place in the Australia World Cup squad firmly in his sights.

The Crystal Palace midfielder earned his first cap in 19 months for the Socceroos last Wednesday as they beat Bahrain 2-0 in Sydney, three days after ensuring their place in South Africa with a 0-0 draw against Qatar.

The 27-year-old played no part in the goalless draw but was an 85th minute substitute against Bahrain and revealed his delight at qualifying for next summer's showpiece event.

"It was amazing," he said.

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

"It would have been nice to have played that day against Qatar but the coach has been excellent and it's been really good.

"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 try and get some game time under my belt."

The former Bristol City man, speaking before this morning's 2-1 win against Japan in which he played 78 minutes and supplied the corner for the winning goal, has now set his sights on next season and a place in the World Cup squad most of all.

"It is definitely a goal of mine next season but there's a lot of hard work to be done between now and then," he said.

"For the moment I am more of a squad player and it's up to me to make sure I do the best I can to be part of the World Cup squad.

"My long term goals for next season are to make sure I do everything well at my club and get as much game time as I can.

"I would like to go up with Palace and it would be nice to go to the World Cup."