NO sooner had the ink dried on Tim Cahill’s new deal with NY Red Bulls, then debate surfaced over whether the Aussie would be back on loan during the MLS break in January.

Even the 32-year-old Goodison hero refused to rule out the possibility when asked about it during his Big Apple press call, and I’m sure it’s not beyond the realms of possibility.

But in the nicest possibly way - particularly in regards to a player so adored in L4 - let’s hope Everton don’t need to.

Traditionally it has taken the arrival of MLS poster-boy Landon Donovan after Christmas to get the Toffees firing, lift morale and flog a few more shirts.

Let’s hope that this season requires no such shot in the arm; that Nikica Jelavic is still banging in the goals, and Everton have avoided their traditional opening slump.

Of course I’m sure Cahill would be welcomed back with open arms if an injury crisis gripped Goodison’s forward line, but that should be the only criteria for his swift return.