Australia may risk Tim Cahill's fitness for Soccoroos' World Cup Qualifier
AUSTRALIA head coach Pim Verbeek has hinted he is ready to take a gamble with Everton's most prized asset - and rush Tim Cahill back into action.
Everton's influential midfielder missed the 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth 10 days ago after sustaining a grade one tear of his calf muscle in the 3-1 victory over Stoke on March 14.
In normal circumstances, Cahill would have remained at Finch Farm to receive treatment on the problem but the international break changed the situation.
FIFA rules stipulate international players must be released by their clubs when there are competitive fixtures so they can be assessed by their country's medical staff.
Everton's medics have excellent relations with their Australian counterparts and have liaised closely in recent years given the fitness problems Cahill has endured.
He was released this time with the expectation he would not figure in the Socceroos' World Cup qualifier with Uzbekistan in Sydney tomorrow.
However, Cahill has spent the last two days training with the Australian squad and Verbeek is hoping he will be fit to play - which may concern Everton.
Verbeek said: "I had them (Cahill and Mark Bresciano) on the training pitch yesterday and they are all training but are they ready to play 90 minutes? That's another question," he said.
"I know what I'm going to do tomorrow but it all depends on the physical fitness of some of the players who were not in every day of training in the last week."
Cahill, who is Everton's leading scorer, has been in outstanding form this season and will have a huge role to play in the final few weeks, particularly in the FA Cup semi-final.
It would, however, be a catastrophe if his wellbeing was jeopardised by Australia hurrying him back before he was ready and he ended up sustaining another injury.
Moyes is unlikely to rest easy until his international contingent return back to Merseyside later this week and he sees them all a clean bill of health.
Meanwhile, CSKA Moscow striker Vagner Love has claimed he knows of an interest from Everton to sign him in the summer.
The Brazilian international came close to moving to Goodison Park last summer but a deal collapsed after a mix-up over loan fees.
But Moyes has continued to monitor Love's progress and watched him play in a UEFA Cup game for the Russian side before Christmas.
"Until now, I haven't received anything concrete," he said.
Older/Newer
« Nigel Martyn: It's all systems go on Everton FC'd bid to reach Europe again | Moyes-Doctrine: Nil Satis Nisi Optimum - the eternal challenge to Evertonians »
Latest Premier League video
