Everton rocked as Tim Cahill ruled out for the season

Mar 27 2008

EVERTON’S derby preparations were dealt a hammer blow today when Tim Cahill was almost certainly ruled out for the rest of the season.

The Blues’ influential midfielder hobbled off during Saturday’s 1-1 draw against West Ham with a recurrence of the metatarsal problem that has already sidelined him twice in the last 12 months.

Cahill, whose 10 goals in 28 appearances had made him Everton’s second top scorer, missed Australia’s 0-0 draw with China in Kunming yesterday and will not be part of the Blues side that travels to Anfield on Sunday.

And it is looking increasingly likely that Cahill has kicked his final ball of the campaign as – if the diagnosis is as bad as feared – he will be forced to spend anything between six and 12 weeks on the sidelines.

When Cahill broke the fifth metatarsal in his left foot during a 1-1 draw against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane last March, he didn’t make another appearance for the Blues until a pre-season friendly against Werder Bremen – and suffered the same injury again.

He returned with all guns blazing, however, and scored in his comeback outing against Larissa before embarking on a scoring spree that has helped thrust Everton firmly into the mix for a place in next season’s Champions League.