MANAGER David Moyes has admitted that Tim Cahill is so vital to the Everton cause that he is loath to take him off the pitch at any point.

The Australian international midfielder netted the crucial second goal in Saturday’s 3-1 FA Cup third round win over Carlisle United with just eight minutes remaining despite enduring a difficult afternoon, seemingly playing through the pain caused by his recent ankle injury.

The 30-year-old had hobbled off in Everton’s previous game against Burnley five days earlier and had only returned to training 24 hours before the Cumbrians visit but with Moyes still down to the bare bones in terms of selection – the 11 he named in his starting line-up were the only senior professionals available to him with the substitutes bench again packed with youngsters – the manager felt compelled to keep Cahill in the thick of the action.

Moyes said: “Tim’s been close to being as good a signing that I’ve brought to the club. Not just for his all-round attitude and type and if ever there was a character that was suited to the club in a lot of ways it’s Tim Cahill. He’s been someone who’s been very important in the last six years he’s been at the club.

“It was a difficult day for him. We’ve been trying to play him in his best position behind the forward but he found it hard going. But in the end he got his reward with the goal.

“We’d like to have given a few of them a breather at times but I probably wouldn’t have done it in the FA Cup, I’d have always wanted to put out my strongest team – I might have done it in Europe.”

He added: “Tim’s just a little bit below at the moment but Tim does what Tim does. He gets goals – heads it in our box too – and is an experienced player. It would have been difficult for us to take him off at any time in the game.