The Sun-Herald

The X-Factor

Who will be our Asian Cup superstar?

With the much-hyped tournament set to kick off this weekend, it's a question worth asking.

There was a time not so long ago when the Socceroos were almost a one-man team when it came to mixing ability with celebrity.

If Harry Kewell wasn't part of the team, let alone squad, the boys were unfortunately perceived as the Duderoos, second best also-rans who were largely anonymous, playing as supporting cast to cool Kewell.

But times have, thankfully, changed. Today, the Socceroos are marketed, and largely perceived, as a team.

Kewell remains the marquee name and receives the most attention from the wider world but he's no longer alone in the spotlight.

Big matches often bring out big performances from players prepared to step up to the next level.

With one penalty kick, and one bare-chested run around Homebush, the 2005 World Cup qualifier made John Aloisi a household name across the country.

So too, Mark Schwarzer and his shoot-out saves etched his face into the psyche of Australia, even if Guus Hiddink remained bizarrely unconvinced by his ability.

Schwarzer has star quality, that elusive X-factor, and since that November night has parlayed his profile into sponsorship deals and even co-written a book for kids.

Last year's World Cup in Germany was a spotlight catapault for Lucas Neill and Tim Cahill.

Long time friends, ever since their days together at Millwall, Neill was outstanding at the tournament and his role in that infamous penalty only added to his personal legend rather than detract from it.

Cahill's goals against Japan summed up what Australians like in a hero footballer.

Wind him up, let him go, get one in the net any which way and then follow it up a few minutes later with a sweetly struck drama-laden pile driver.

Hooray! Timmy becomes an instant hero to millions.

But does anyone else have the ability to step up at the Asian Cup?

The opportunity is there but does Brett Holman have what it takes to rival Tim Cahill as a big name player? Perhaps any comparison is unfair.

The Australian obsession with the English Premier League means that many players are, if not outright ignored, then at least overlooked by the public.

That's one reason why, despite excellent reputations in Italy, Mark Bresciano and Vince Grella probably don't have higher profiles at home.

If Bresciano played for Liverpool and Grella was Everton's midfield rock, they might equal Kewell's swaggering star status.

Holman plays for Nijmegen in Holland. You probably can't pronounce the club's name properly, even if you have heard of them.

They are an admittedly unglamorous club in a league where only three sides - Ajax, Feyenoord, and PSV - can be considered heavyweights.

So it's unfortunate that, even if Holman flourishes with the Socceroos, his current club status means that he won't be the next poster boy for the national team.

Not yet, anyway.

The Asian Cup may also provide a big opportunity for Nick Carle.

A favourite at Newcastle Jets in the A-League, Graham Arnold is likely to use Carle off the bench as a Cahill-like gamebreaker if things are getting a little tricky in the Bangkok heat.

Carle last month agreed a move to Genclerbirligi in Turkey, a no nonsense side that had success several years ago when Josip Skoko was an influential member of the team.

But Skoko has told me in the past that while the Turkish league is high quality, with big crowds, and the facilities are often better than what is experienced in England, it comes up as a big fat zero as far as creating a profile at home in Australia.

Two players with a lot of potential to kick through are Sydney favourite David Carney, who could be on his way to Charlton Athletic if a mooted deal goes through, and Patrick Kisnorbo.

With the Socceroos defensive cupboard seemingly bare, Graham Arnold intends to groom Carney as a left wingback and inherit Scott Chipperfield's role.

A defender, rather than a swashbuckling attacking midfielder, the door of opportunity has swung wide open for Kisnorbo, even if he plays for Leicester City in the English Second Division.

He has been constantly linked with a move away from Leicester - a team that seems marooned in mediocrity - and the Premier League beckons.

First, though, for all these players, is the Asian Cup.

Reputations are about to be made or broken.

The stage is there. We just need someone to step up.