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Tim Cahill hands Everton derby boost

Oct 18 2007

EXCLUSIVE by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo

 

Tim Cahill in training

TIM CAHILL is ready to give David Moyes an eve of derby selection headache by making himself available for the first time this season.

Everton’s influential midfielder has been sidelined for 12 weeks after re-injuring the fifth metatarsal in his left foot which he broke during a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United on March 3.

It has been a long road back for the Australian international, but he was given the green light to start training properly on Monday and is itching to be involved against Liverpool.

Although Moyes will not make any decisions on his starting line-up until all his internationals have returned to Finch Farm, Cahill’s return to the squad has clearly given the manager a lift.

“Tim started training on Monday and we are pleased to have him back,” Moyes, who hopes to get a run of five games in 14 days off to the best possible start, said today. “There is no doubt we have missed him since he’s been out.

“He is a goalscoring central midfielder with drive and when you look at the goals he has scored for Everton in the past three years, he has been a big part of our success.

“This a big period for us. We gave the players a few days off last week after a difficult period and gave them a chance to relax. From Saturday, we have a lot of big games and need them fresh.”

Cahill has scored three times in six derby appearances, including the opening goal in last season’s 3-0 victory at Goodison Park, and there is a possibility he could be joined in the squad by Thomas Gravesen.

The Dane has been limited to just 29 minutes of football since returning on a season-long loan from Celtic after an old knee injury flared up in training.

He needed to have fluid drained from his knee but his rehabilitation has gone well, although Moyes may exercise caution with Gravesen.

“Tommy has done a bit of training and we will keep monitoring him,” he said. “We have had to limit his involvement, but he is doing better.”

In a further boost for Moyes, Andrew Johnson has reported back to Everton’s training base after undergoing an ankle operation last week in a bid to finally remedy his injury problems.

With the surgery being a complete success, Johnson hopes to start some light jogging in the next few days and should be back in contention within the next fortnight, possibly for the UEFA Cup tie in Nurnberg on November 8.

“AJ came back in on Monday and it is good to see him walking about,” said Moyes. “As long as the scans come back OK, he’ll be able to step things up a little bit and we are positive that it won’t be too long before he is back.”

* EVERTON are urging all fans who have not yet received their match ticket for Saturday's derby to pick it up in person from the Goodison Box Office during normal opening hours - 8am to 6pm.

The postal strike continues to cause problems and the club is anxious to avoid a massive walk-up of fans on Saturday morning who have still not picked up their tickets.

 

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