Everton's Phil Jagielka eyes Manchester United and Merseyside derby return
THE fixture computer has given Phil Jagielka a major incentive in his rehabilitation bid with Everton due to face Manchester United and Liverpool at the defender's scheduled comeback time.
Premier League fixtures for the 2009/10 season were announced yesterday with Everton handed a home start for the sixth consecutive season as Arsenal come to Goodison Park on the opening day.
Everton Player of the Year Jagielka - cruelly denied a place in last month's FA Cup Final with a anterior cruciate ligament injury picked up a week after his winning penalty against Manchester United had booked David Moyes's men a return trip to Wembley - is not expected to be pushing for a first team return until November though.
But with a trip to Old Trafford to face his boyhood heroes and a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park that month, Jagielka is looking forward to being thrown back in at the deep end.
He said: "I've been trying not to set myself any targets but I've been aiming for November.
"I'm going to see the surgeon in the next few weeks though and hopefully he'll be able to give me a date that I can realistically aim for."
After their stern test against the Gunners on the opening day, Everton face a trip to Burnley and a home game with Wigan in August - a midweek trip to Manchester City has already been put back because of commitments in the play-off round of the Europa League.
With Jagielka having to watch his team-mates from the sidelines, he can afford to have a smile on his face when he predicts that they should have few problems getting off to a good start.
He said: "The fixtures we've been given are not too hard.
"We have a couple of home games in there so hopefully we'll be able to get some points on the board early on."
Meanwhile, Tim Cahill rounded off his season in fine style by netting a brace for Australia in a 2-1 win against Japan to ensure the Socceroos finished on top of their 2010 World Cup qualifying group.
The midfielder's brace brought back memories of the meeting between the two nations in the 2006 finals in Germany with Cahill came off the bench to score twice in a 3-1 victory.
Both sides had already qualified for next summer's tournament in South Africa but the Everton man's goals ensured unbeaten Australia remained top of their group ahead of Japan.
The Socceroos also trailed on this occasion after Tulio Tanaka struck for the visitors in the 40th minute but a Cahill header just before the hour mark and a right foot effort 14 minutes from full-time brought the 69,238 MCG crowd in Melbourne to their feet.
Cahill, who has now netted 16 times in 33 internationals, said: "I'd just like to thank the crowd, the lads, a great turnout in Melbourne, I'm so proud to be here.
"I'm so proud to play tonight so I think the credit just goes to the crowd, you were brilliant.
"This is a step forward for us, it's great to finish top of the group."
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