Tricky Trevor Steven pays tribute to Tim Cahill on his 50th Everton goal

05 January 2010 05:00
Multimedia Background image for 'Everton boss David Moyes on how the Blues must cope against Chelsea without Tim Cahill'[LNB]SOME 45 footballers have reached the 50-goal milestone for Everton Football Club.[LNB]But when you rule out the strikers, for whom goal-scoring is their raison d'être, that number shrinks considerably.[LNB]In fact, only five players who could be classed as modern-day midfielders have hit half-centuries in the history of the club - which makes Tim Cahill's recent achievement all the more commendable.[LNB]Cahill hit his 50th on Saturday - and typically it was a decisive strike.[LNB]An out-and-out midfielder when he first arrived at Goodison in the summer of 2004, Cahill's eye for goal saw him progressively pushed further forward to occupy the newly-created modern role of 'support striker' assisting a lone front-runner.[LNB]But in most fans' eyes - and certainly his own perception - he remains a midfielder.[LNB]Trevor Steven, the last Everton midfielder to reach the 50-goal milestone, also knows what it was like to play up front.[LNB]But his experiences in the forward line were fleeting, the vast majority of his 60 Everton goals coming from his usual position wide on the right, or from occasional forays as a central midfielder.[LNB] Now a successful football agent, Steven monitors his old club closely and was delighted to see Cahill reach the half-century milestone.[LNB]'Even in his days at Millwall, Tim Cahill was known as someone who got into areas,' he explained. 'He was very bright in and around the box, his movement is good, he is brave and if you put all that together he will get some goals.[LNB]'Players like that are very difficult to find.[LNB]' I think a major part of Tim Cahill's contribution is his ability to score goals because he isn't a prolific goal-maker, so he goes out every match to shoulder that goal-scoring responsibility.[LNB]'I am sure he is not happy if he isn't scoring. He hasn't got so many this season but he's had injuries and the team has not been playing particularly well.[LNB]'But a season is a long time, and I am sure he will bang in a few more.[LNB]'I think David Moyes missed his goal contribution earlier in the season and will hope normal service has been resumed again.'

Source: Liverpool_Echo