The Australian star suffered a recurrence of his metatarsal injury in a pre-season friendly against Werder Bremen recently, and is likely to be out for six weeks.

Cahill had been out of action since March, when he broke the same bone in his foot against Sheffield United.

He played for Australia in the Asian Cup earlier this summer although he was restricted to substitute appearances.

The injury is not considered as serious as the previous one but Cahill confesses the new injury is frustrating.

He said: "I am just devastated. I felt really sharp in the first 45 minutes against Bremen.

"I got a few touches of the ball and had a few chances and possibly should have scored.

"It is frustrating as I was so excited to come back from the Asian Cup. I worked so hard in the summer not only to get fit for Australia but for Everton.

"It is definitely not as serious as before. I was trying to tell myself nothing was wrong with me after the game but the next morning I felt it."

He added: "It is another freak injury. I have seen the surgeons and had scans and I am waiting for some more reports back.

"I am just devastated because I have not been injured this much in my life."

Cahill is remaining positive and believes Everton is a club that is going places this term.

He said: "I have just got to look forward and there are definitely reasons to be positive for the new season.

"Everybody is talking about the new signings but to get Mikel Arteta to sign a new five-year deal is like a new signing in itself.

"We have got some big games coming up and the UEFA Cup. There is a bright future for Everton."

Everton look to have been thwarted in their attempts to prise Ayegbeni Yakubu away from Middlesbrough, admitting they made an inquiry but insisting no bid was made.

The big striker has been told he is not for sale, and Boro also claim no bid was tabled and that the player has not asked for a transfer, as has been claimed.

The only way Everton will now take the issue further is to make a formal bid in excess of $27million, and sources at the club imply they are not prepared to go that high.

Yakubu has become unsettled on Teesside in recent months and a number of clubs have reportedly made enquiries over the summer, including Manchester City, Portsmouth, West Ham and Aston Villa, with Boro rejecting those bids.

Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb has now claimed Yakubu will not be leaving after manager Gareth Southgate reassured the player of his future.

He said: "Naturally all of the speculation over such a long period has unsettled Yakubu a little.

"But Gareth Southgate has made it absolutely clear to 'Yak' that he has a major part to play in the club's future and we have no plans to sell him.

"The truth is that there has been no bid from Everton in any case, so we want Yakubu focused on Saturday's game with Blackburn and the season ahead."