With regular club captain Phil Neville out injured, boss David Moyes has handed the armband to Cahill in recent clashes.

As he battles to shake off a knock ahead of Everton's Europa League match with Benfica on Thursday, the Socceroo star has spoken of his pride.

"It's a massive honour and a privilege to be a captain of such a big team," Cahill told the Liverpool Echo. "It's something in my career that is probably the biggest moment for me.

"It's something I don't take lightly; it's been very disheartening to wear the armband and lose games but we turned it around against Aston Villa. The gaffer looks for leadership and if I have the armband or not I will always be a leader of this team."

Everton face a Benfica side that mauled them 5-0 in their last Europa League meeting.