Tim Cahill praises team-mates for helping him make his mark
STAND-IN striker Tim Cahill has praised the support of his team-mates as Everton have emerged from an injury crisis with a firm grip on a top six position in the Premier League.
The Australian has shown his versatility in helping out – often in a lone strike role – while the club’s four main front men have been ruled out by injury.
Match-winning goals against Manchester City and Middlesbrough have helped Everton not just survive, but prosper as 2008 draws to a close.
The midfielder believes the experience of playing as a striker is making him a better overall player, but that it could not be done without the backing of the rest of the squad.
Cahill said: “All players are playing in different positions because of the lack of numbers but we’re all in there for the cause. You see where we’re sat in the table and hopefully we can progress even higher.”
Cahill highlighted the forward contributions of fellow midfielder Marouane Fellaini.
“It’s a lot harder work,” he added of his new role. “It’s obviously a lot of mileage covered, but every player runs in every position. I just think that for the gaffer to have the faith in me to play up there on my own means I’m going to take that opportunity and do it for the team. It’s very difficult but I get help from Fellaini and the lads coming forward.
“Felli is a great lad and a great player. He covers a lot of ground and he seems to be attacking a lot and we’re playing off each other, but we’re trying to get the most out of ourselves for the team and it’s starting to work like that and the team is benefiting from it.”
Cahill told evertonTV that there was plenty of pressure in playing up front.
“I’m not in a win-win situation – I have to work very hard to keep my place and put pressure on defences, because I feel that I need to work hard for the team,” he explained.
Meanwhile Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia admitted Everton were “far superior” after his managerial career started with a disappointing 3-0 defeat.
Spragia was handed the job on a permanent basis after leading the Black Cats as caretaker manager following Roy Keane’s resignation at the start of the month.
