Royal Blue: Australia team coach Holger Osieck sets the record straight on Tim Cahill

Nov 12 2011 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

TIM CAHILL was one of the Premier League’s top scorers when he went to the Asia Cup finals this time last year.

He hasn’t scored since returning – and has rarely looked like the same influential figure.

The reasons behind his fading form were revealed by national team coach Holger Osieck this week.

Cahill came off the bench and played the final half-hour at Newcastle, after effectively being ruled out of Australia’s matches against Oman and Thailand on medical grounds. “This is club business,” said Osieck. “They pay him and, if they think they can play him for a certain time in the game, it is their choice.

“'The situation with Tim had been even after the Asian Cup he was not 100 per cent fit, and I knew it. But they (Everton) still played him, because in a way they needed him.

“That was, down the road, not very beneficial to him. He needs to be fit, 100% fit, which isn't the case. I saw the game and was very interested when he came on. He didn't touch the ball too often, he was not very involved. It will be interesting how the story goes on.”