TIM CAHILL insists Everton will not be distracted by the Carlos Tevez saga as he prepares to release his frustration against Manchester City.

The ongoing transfer row between Tevez and his club might have the sporting world gripped, but Everton’s Aussie star says Everton must focus only on hitting the back of the net at Eastlands.

Cahill, 31, is top goal-scorer for the Toffees so far this season, and wants to carry on his fine form before departing for the Asia Cup in January.

Everton have scored just 18 goals so far during this campaign, and remain only two points above the relegation places.

So Cahill admits the lack of punch in front of goal is something that has to change and he said: “It is frustrating as the fans know what we can do and what we can achieve, but if it does not hit the back of the net it means nothing. We are going to fight hard and make sure we are always in the trenches. The main thing is we are training well and our perf-ormances have been solid.”

“This is a massive game. We love going to big stadiums and playing big teams like Manchester City. For us we relish the opportunity playing one of the biggest teams in the world at the moment. It is all for us to take.

“(The Tevez saga) is not anything I am interested in nor are any of the lads. Who knows what the situation really is. I respect the players' decisions and the best thing for us is to concentrate on our own game.”

Cahill is also hoping his compatriots can turn things round after the third Ashes Test began in Perth this morning – even if only to spare him from the light-hearted mockery of Phil Neville.

The Aussies go into the match trailing 1-0 in the series having been out-played in every department of the game in the second Test in Adelaide.

And with the first Test in Brisbane ending all square, England need only one more win to retain the Ashes and two more to complete an outright series win.

That has pleased Neville, a talented cricketer who could have pursued a career in the sport having once been captain of England Under-15s and the youngest ever player to represent Lancashire’s second XI before Andrew Flintoff.

Cahill said: “I have been watching a bit of the cricket but it hasn’t been too brilliant to be honest.

“You never know, there is still time and hopefully we can still turn it around.

“The cricket is something the boys have been paying a fair bit of attention to, they have been having a bit of a dig – especially Phil Neville.

“There has been a bit of banter between the two of us and Phil knows what he is on about as he is probably a better cricketer than he is a footballer.

“You can have a joke with Phil but he knows when to be serious and the way he represents the club is fantastic.”

Meanwhile, Leighton Baines will re-buff any bid for his signature from Bayern Munich in January. As revealed in yesterday’s ECHO, David Moyes would not entertain any approach from the German club, and Baines, 26, is settled on Merseyside, where he is contracted until 2014.

And Munich director of sport Christian Nerlinger has revealed that the club may not necessarily sign a new full-back in the forthcoming transfer window anyway.