A week or so back I mentioned that Tim Cahill could well miss two forthcoming Everton games as a result of Australia’s World Cup Qualifier on February 6. It was clear back then that Cahill would make the choice. Since then there’s growing evidence that he will make the trip.
The Qualifier is due to be played in Melbourne on February 6 – smack bang in the middle of Everton’s games with Blackburn on Saturday and Reading a week later. David Moyes has apparently left the decision whether to fly out for the game to Cahill and quotes from the player earlier this month appeared to reveal his current thinking.
“I’m available for Australia any time,” remarked Cahill in this recent article.
“I fought so hard in court cases and things to play for Australia…I’m not all of a sudden going to turn around and say I don’t want to play…”
Opinion was then, that if selected, Cahill would make himself available. Australian coach, Pim Veerbek, has now named the Everton man as part of a provisional 39-man squad for the Qatar game. That squad also includes Schwarzer, Neill, Emerton and Kewell – minor concerns for fantasy managers in comparison to Cahill.
Mark Viduka was omitted from the selection with Newcastle due to play on Sunday February 3 – which is the Monday in Australia. That would seem to indicate that Veerbek would allow Everton to field Cahill against Blackburn this coming Saturday. However, the likelihood that he would return fresh enough to turn out against Reading a week later would seem very remote.
This is of particular interest for fantasy managers with Cahill suspended for the Spurs game tomorrow night. With doubts over his appearance in the two games that follow, it would appear that Cahill is a prime candidate to be shipped out with teammates Arteta, Osman and perhaps Pienaar considered as possible replacements.
Pienaar looks almost certain to return home early from the African Cup of Nations, unless South Africa can beat Senegal on Thursday. Nigerian pair Yakubu and Yobo meanwhile, are also set to return home before the weekend, even if Nigeria beat Benin tomorrow night. Mali need just a draw against the Ivory Coast to knock Nigeria out of the tournament.
Yobo and Yakubu could well come into Moyes thoughts for the Blackburn game then, while Pienaar looks very likely to play a role against Reading a week later. Cahill may turn out on Saturday against Rovers but with Pienaar back for the Reading game, it would appear that Moyes may have enough to rest him the following week.