xxxxxxxxx TEAM NEWS

NO manager is ever in a hurry to drop their talisman. Sven Goran Eriksson refused to bench Frank Lampard for England, forever trying to accommodate him to the detriment of the national side.

And David Moyes, who has often labelled Tim Cahill one of his best ever signings, has remained true to the Aussie throughout an almost year-long goal drought.

But on Wednesday night when the team-sheets were handed around the Goodison press-box, eye-brows raised in unison at the omission of the man Moyes signed for £1.5m in summer 2004.

Cahill’s absence from that starting line-up was a significant development.

And to heap further pressure on the fans’ favourite, Leon Osman’s deployment in his role behind Louis Saha resulted in the only goal of a much-needed win.

But Moyes views his decision to bench Cahill as a temporary step, which in the long-term will cajole the ultimate competitor back into top form.

“I felt we needed to change things against Swansea,” says the Everton boss. “We've played Tim as a centre-forward in a 4-4-2 in the last few weeks and we have not scored any goals, so we had to try something different and went with Louis up top with Ossie behind him.

“I've got to say that, even though it's only been a day or two, I've been very impressed by his reaction.

“I think he needed it, and I think he knows that himself. He has responded well, which is what I would expect from someone of his type. He is a great type, a great worker.”

While Moyes has seen signs from Cahill’s determined reaction that he will soon be back to his best, he admits he took note of his angry reaction to being substituted after 61 minutes against Norwich last weekend.

“His reaction to being taken off against Norwich wasn't great but I've got no problem with that,” he says. He is hurting at the moment but I think what's happened in recent matches has refocused him a bit and hopefully we will see the benefit of that. By his own admission, Tim has not played as well as he should have done and the goals have dried up too, but we will help him try to get back to how we know he can be.”

Cahill insists his lack of goals is only a problem if he stops contributing to the team.

The 32-year-old will keep striving to break his duck but is also focused on helping in other ways. “What do you do?” he says. “Do you stop playing football, do you stop going on the pitch? If I'm not the one scoring then hopefully someone else is to make sure we win.

“It's the best game in the world and something that I love and the fans know that I give everything. I'm blessed playing in one of the biggest stages in the world and if I wasn't consistent and not playing well, it would be harder, but I feel fantastic.

“As long as I'm contributing, I don't always have to be the one that scores.”

Cahill accepts that his career won’t last forever, and is determined to make the most of it. “When you get looked after by a manager and chairman so much, you feel the obligation to make sure you're always available," he said.

“Rightly or wrongly, it's my choice to play injured or stay with the physio. I suppose there are only three or four years left for me to play football and then I can chill out and look back and say I'm happy with the graft I've put in.”