Cahill has jetted out to joni the rest of his Everton team-mates on their pre-season tour of the USA despite surgery in Sydney on his foot injury left unable to play.

“I flew from the UK to Australia, stayed there for four days then flew straight here via Los Angeles,” Cahill told the Liverpool Echo. “I’ve done quite a lot of travelling but it is all going to be beneficial in the long run

“I feel it’s important that I’m training with the team. I could have stayed back at Finch Farm but it’s just good to be among the lads, even if I’m not joining in the football stuff just yet. Everything is really positive.”

Cahill broke the fifth metatarsal in his left foot for the third time in a year near the end of last season, ruling him out of Everton's late season run and Australia's World Cup qualifiers in Super June.

“I knew straight away that it had broken,” he said. “The physios weren’t convinced, but I’ve done it a few times and I’m lucky that I know a lot about the human body now.

“It’s all fate. Everything happens for a reason. I came back last year and played 28 games and scored 10 goals. I made an impact and I’ll do the same again this year. Whether it means I’ll play less games or more, we’ll see.

“I’ve worked closely with some of the best physios in the world, so basically I just dealt with it. I was upset, sure. But at the end of the day, I’ve got a great family, three beautiful children and I was able to stay positive.

“I am a confident person and have worked hard to come back. I make the most of what I have got. Being finished? That never even crossed my mind. I know how fortunate I am – I play for a terrific football club with some fabulous players.

“I’m thankful I’ve got this opportunity to recover and get myself back to the highest peak of fitness and form. I did it last year and the season before. I’m not fazed by the test. We get paid to be the best at what we do. Hard work is no sacrifice.

“Now, the whole process is more about prevention and recovery than actually playing. You have to know when to stop. I feel like I’m fresh now. It’s such a buzz to be back involved in things again.”

Cahill's isn't rushing back to playing jsut to make the seaosn opener against Balckburn Rovers.

He wants to ensure he takes his time and allows his foot to heal properly so rule out any more problems further down the line, especially with a gruelling season ahead.

He added: “I think this is going to be our hardest season since I’ve been at the club.

“It’s got nothing to do with expectations. What we have achieved in the last four years is exceptional.

“When you have finished fifth, you have got to be looking to go up again and we will be doing that.

"But you ask yourself questions. How do I become a better player? How does Mikel (Arteta) find that extra level? How does the team get better and how does the Gaffer make the team better?

“ It is so difficult to sign players in this market. It’s a terrible market, really. Teams are out-pricing their players just to get more money in.

“There are a lot of great players in this team who care a lot for the club they play for. I suppose he is sensitive to that. What does he go out and buy? What’s out there? What’s the difference between a £5m player and £20m player?”

He added: “I’m a very happy chap at the moment.

“I don’t want to spoil it by rushing to get back sooner than I’m ready for. If I have to run for an extra two months without touching a ball, I’ll do it.

"It’s just all about being sensible.”