Tim Cahill eager for more as season builds momentum

Nov 2 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

TIM CAHILL believes the momentum is now with improving Everton as they strive to break further new ground under David Moyes.

Cahill was the Carling Cup match-winner at Luton Town on Wednesday night as the Goodison outfit reached the last eight of a knockout competition for the first time since Moyes took charge at the club in March 2002.

It was the fourth in a run of seven games in 23 days that will have a huge bearing on the remainder of Everton’s season.

Having began that sequence with a controversial derby defeat to Liverpool, Moyes’s men have responded by racking up a hat-trick of victories against Larissa in the UEFA Cup, at Derby County in the league and at Luton in midweek.

And with games against Birmingham City, Nurnberg and Chelsea to come before this month’s international break, Cahill reckons there can be no let-up if Everton are to continue their encouraging form.

“The momentum is with us,” he said. “We have won three games on the trot now. This is where we want to be.

“We want to be competing in these tournaments and we’ve got to make sure we are ready because we have got some important games coming up, including a quarter-final now.

“We have a lot of players coming back from injury and a great squad.

“It’s just a bit of extra spice being in the League Cup and the UEFA Cup and it puts pressure on players.”

Everton are among the last eight in the League Cup for the first time in 20 years, when they beat Manchester City before losing to Arsenal in the semi-final.

Moyes’s men could again be paired with either of those teams in tomorrow’s draw, with Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers making up the rest of a strong quarter-final line-up.

Cahill’s goal at Kenilworth Road was his second in a week following his comeback from almost eight months out with a recurring metatarsal problem.

And he added: “I was just happy to get some more minutes on the pitch. It was always going to be a test against Luton but we did really well, it was a great team performance. It’s not about individuals.

“When I walked out before the game, the stadium brought back a few memories from my days with Millwall and I would have preferred to start but I’m just delighted that I was able to make a difference and get a goal.

“But it wasn’t about me. It was a great team performance and people like Ossie and Cars were absolutely sensational. They worked so hard.”

Moyes’s selection options have been further bolstered by the return of Thomas Gravesen and James Vaughan.

Vaughan’s returned for the first time since suffering a dislocated shoulder during a pre-season that saw him forge a friendship with fellow injury victim Cahill.

“I was delighted to see Vaughany get on,” he added. “He deserves some good luck now and hopefully he won’t look back from here.”