Toffees pleased with Cahill
25 May 2007 - 11:07:36
Everton are pleased with Tim Cahill's rehabilitation from a broken foot but have reiterated their warning to Australia not to rush the midfielder back before he is fully-fit.
Toffees head physio Mick Rathbone has returned from a trip Down Under to asses the fitness of Cahill, who is with the Australia squad as they prepare for July's Asian Cup.
Cahill is desperate to play for his country despite being sidelined since fracturing a metatarsal bone at Sheffield United in March, but Rathbone has targeted the outcome of a June X-ray before any decision is taken.
"Tim has been out in Australia for the last four weeks. It was an ideal opportunity for him to get home and spend some time with his family, because he has not been able to do that for the last four summers," Rathbone told the club's official website.
"He has been working with the physios from the Australian national team and they have been doing an excellent job.
"He had his 10-week post-injury X-ray last week and it was very encouraging so we felt it was important I went out there to be with Tim when he started jogging again.
"It also enabled me to liaise with the medical staff from Australia and professionally the trip went very well.
"He is our player and if the foot is not right he can't play so it was an important trip.
"We left him with a light programme to work on with the Australian medical people and he will have a further X-ray on June 11."
