Segundo Castillo admits desperation to kickstart career

"With every training session and every appearance I get for the reserves and the first team it's important I improve, and do so on a day-to-day basis," said Castillo.

"I'm just dying for that opportunity to show again what I can do and what I can bring to the team.

"You've always got to aim for the first team but I've been having to show a bit of patience so far. The main thing is to be ready and to keep on working so I'm at the disposal of the manager when he needs me.

"I've settled in and I've adapted well to the way football is played here. It's just a case of trying to get that consistency which will get me a regular place in the first team. Hopefully if I can show myself in training and with the reserves that will come."

Fellow midfielder Cahill yesterday insisted comments that suggested he was ready to leave Everton when his current deal expires have been taken out of context.

The 28-year-old admits he may return to Australia before retiring but says he will want to stay in the English game after his contract runs out in the summer of 2012.

Cahill said: "Everyone knows that I am fiercely proud of my roots and that perhaps one day I may play club football back home but to say that I will be doing it at the end of my current deal is simply not true.

"I am 28 and, with all due respect, when my contract expires I would hope that I will still have a few more years left at this level of the game.

"The English Premier League is the best in the world and it has the best players so I have absolutely no plans to move on."

Meanwhile, Everton have cut their ticket prices by £1 following the Government's decision to reduce VAT.

Earlier this week the Chancellor Alistair Darling unveiled a series of measures in his pre-Budget report that he hopes will help to boost the ailing economy, including a VAT cut from 17.5% to 15% for 13 months.

Everton officials have responded by revealing that any ticket purchased on or after Monday, December 1 for games at Goodison Park will be at a new reduced price.

Acting chief executive Robert Elstone said: "We are very conscious of the economic climate and the potential for tough times ahead and felt it was right that the club go beyond the VAT impact and pass on a greater saving to the fans."

Half-season ticket prices will also change to reflect the new rate of VAT from the start of December.