Everton sent their head physio Mick Rathbone to Australia this week to assess the recovery of Cahill, who has not played since fracturing a metatarsal bone at Sheffield United in March.

The Australians want Cahill fit for their opening Asian Cup game in July, and he is due to join up with the national squad on June 21.

The X-ray will take place on June 11 and it seems likely that he will be declared fit to compete in the tournament after that.

But Everton have been concerned enough about Cahill's recovery to send Rathbone to oversee the midfielder's return to jogging.

Cahill has been continuing his rehabilitation in Australia over the last month.

Rathbone visited him in Sydney earlier this week and has returned with a positive report on the player's injury.

Rathbone told evertonfc.com: "Tim has been out in Australia for the last four weeks. It was an ideal opportunity for him to get home and spend some time with his family, because he has not been able to do that for the last four summers.

"He has been working with the physios from the Australian national team and they have been doing an excellent job.

"He had his 10-week post injury x-ray last week and it was very encouraging so we felt it was important I went out there to be with Tim when he started jogging again.

"It also enabled me to liaise with the medical staff from Australia and professionally the trip went very well. We have remained in close contact with Tim whilst he has been back there but this was a good time to go out and see how he is getting on now he can jog again."

He added: "He is our player and if the foot is not right he can't play so it was an important trip.

"We left him with a light programme to work on with the Australian medical people and he will have a further x-ray on June 11."