Tim Cahill won't rush his Everton comeback

But the decision has been taken for Hibbert to go under the knife, with the right-back now rated "touch and go" to be fit for the season opener at home to Blackburn Rovers on August 16.

"We put it in a brace for six weeks, because surgery is to be avoided at all costs," said head of physio Mick Rathbone.

"We have got him running flat out in a straight line, but any side-to-side stuff and he just doesn't feel right.

"Now is the optimum time to get it sorted and get it pinned back into place. Hopefully he will be there or thereabouts for the start of the season. It's touch and go.

"If we waited longer and he needed an operation then it would really impact on the start of the season so it is the right decision."

Hibbert was one of several Everton players not among the squad that travelled to Switzerland yesterday to begin a week-long training camp.

Cahill is another to have remained at Finch Farm, with the midfielder taking longer to recover his fitness than first anticipated.

The 28-year-old, who had surgery in Australia in May to end the metatarsal problems that have dogged his game during the past 18 months, had targeted a return for the start of pre-season training last week.

But now the midfielder admits he has no idea when he will be fully fit and has yet to resume running.

"I've just got to wait for the final X-ray that will clear me," said Cahill. "As it goes, it's still up in the air. I'm not going to put any dates or times on it because it's probably one of these things where I'm just looking to get fit and that's the most important thing.

"If it takes me an extra couple of weeks then it does, if it doesn't it's a bonus."

Of his current rehabilitation, Cahill added: "At the moment my training involves a lot of swimming, a lot of cardiovascular work on the bikes and I'm starting to do a lot of balancing work plus weights.

"Training is pretty busy now and quite intense but it will be good once I'm back running."

Fellow long-term injury victim Mikel Arteta has joined Hibbert and Cahill in staying behind to work on their fitness at Finch Farm. While James Vaughan and Leighton Baines have travelled to Switzerland, the quintet of Joseph Yobo, Victor Anichebe, Yakubu, Steven Pienaar and Tim Howard have been given extra time to rest following their international commitments last month.

Baines went under the knife after the end of the last campaign to rectify a long-standing ankle injury, and is hopeful of a return to action during the tour to the United States later this month.

"Since last Thursday, I've been taking part in every running session," said Baines. "I'm pleased with the way things are going at the minute.

"We are going to be doing a lot of work in Switzerland and that will help, but hopefully I'll be able to get a few minutes on the pitch when we go to America."