Tim Cahill says Everton will come out fighting against Spurs despite injury woes

EVERTON have been hit flush on the chin with another devastating injury setback – but skipper Tim Cahill insists it’s not a knockout blow.

The Blues are counting the cost of Wednesday night’s Europa League triumph at AEK Athens with news that injuries to Sylvain Distin, Dan Gosling and Jo leave them with just SEVEN fully fit senior outfield players for the showdown with Spurs on Sunday.

Boss David Moyes will patch up the likes of struggling Steven Pienaar, Yakubu, Louis Saha and possibly Jack Rodwell for the game at Goodison on Sunday just to be able to field a side against Tottenham.

While many would see that as desperate news given that the Blues already had eight long-term injuries to influential players such as Phil Neville, Mikel Arteta and Phil Jagielka, Cahill refuses to be downbeat about his side’s prospects.

Instead, he used the example of his close friend, and now World Cruiserweight champion, Danny Green to insist that they will get up off the canvas and punch well above their weight.

“The injuries are unfortunate but we have shown incredible fighting spirit to get the victory in Athens and go through to the next round of the Europa League,” Cahill said.

“What we have is that extra spirit and hunger, and I think we have shown what we can do when people write us off. In that respect, I was inspired by Danny Green.

“They said he had no chance against Roy Jones Junior, but that’s the Aussie spirit. He trained hard and has come out and knocked out a boxing great.

“I texted him before his fight and I got a text back straight after we beat AEK, congratulating us on the spirit we showed. I know I was definitely inspired by Danny and I think Everton showed a bit of that spirit too.”

Cahill admitted that when Everton lost three more players to injury before the game was even half done, he feared the worst.

“Seeing Distin go off so early, and then Gosling and Jo, you start thinking if everything is against you, but everyone stepped up and it was a massive win because of that,” he said.

“We’ve got more problems but we have got to all pull together now to come through this.”