Head case Cahill comes to Everton's rescue again
Tis the season to be jolly.
That is except if you're an Evertonian.
This campaign has been anything but jolly so far and after being tipped for a Champions League spot, Everton arrived at a freezing Eastlands just two points above the drop zone.
But then David Moyes has proved time after time he is the man for all seasons.
He turned Everton around in 2005-06 and again 12 months ago when they lost just twice during a barnstorming second half to the campaign.
Moyes still believes it is not too late to engineer another remarkable recovery - and with Tim Cahill anything is possible.
Goodness knows where Everton would be without Cahill's goals this season and he is averaging one every two games for the Blues.
Despite standing just 5ft 10ins tall, he is one of the best headers of the ball in the Premier League.
He has scored more headed goals per game than anyone in the history of the Premier League, more than even the likes of Alan Shearer and Duncan Ferguson.
Cahill did more damage with his nut on Monday night as he bagged his third headed goal in his last four appearances against City.
His simple free header was his ninth in 17 goals and any striker in the Premier League, let alone an attacking midfielder, would give his best snood for stats like those.
He is well on course to beat his best-ever tally for Everton of 12 and incredibly the Aussie international claims he should have more.
"I probably should be on a few more goals than I already am," he said. "I think this year I have focused a lot more on trying to stay fit and trying to make sure I complete 90 minutes and that I train every day and don't miss a session Monday to Friday.
"As you get older, people question you and they seem to try and find holes in your game. So I want to keep giving my best every single day."
It's not hard then to see why Moyes is so upset about losing Cahilll when he heads off next month to compete in the Asian Cup in Qatar.
Cahill leaves on January 2 and will be away for a whole month if the Socceroos go all the way and reach the final on January 29.
The challenge for Cahill's team-mates is to plug the massive hole he will leave and it is shocking that Everton's strike quartet of Louis Saha, Yakubu, Victor Anichebe and Jermaine Beckford have managed just three league goals between them.
It's not too hard to work out what their New Year's Resolution should be.
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