IN HIS prime Tim Cahill never required Red Bull to be at his gravity-defying, defence terrorising best – but as his 33rd birthday approaches a true Blue icon has decided he does need to spread his wings after all.

The Aussie so respected and loved by Everton’s fan base has decided to call time on his eight-year Goodison career, and grasp the opportunity of a glamorous move to play for New York Red Bulls in MLS.

As one Twitter user posted last night: ‘Corner flags of the Red Bull Arena beware – you’re in for a pummelling’.

The esteem in which Cahill was held on the blue half of Merseyside has barely dimmed in recent seasons, but maybe for the midfielder the writing was on the wall before Monday night when his exit was agreed.

After a season when a normally prolific poacher scored just three goals for the Toffees – and went without finding the net throughout 2011 – his previously guaranteed first-team place had come under more scrutiny from David Moyes.

Cahill was only left on the bench on a handful of occasions towards the end of last term, but for a proud warrior who still feels he has plenty to give – perhaps the life of a bit-part player did not hold much appeal.

This was not, however, a transfer demanded by a player desperate to get away. If anything the Blue Kangaroo was initially tempted to stay for another season of Premier League battling.

But when his advisors – the Los Angeles-based and influential Wasserman Media Group, who also represent Ross Barkley, Jack Rodwell and Landon Donovan – received a host of lucrative offers ranging from China to the Middle East, it became apparent Cahill had plenty of options should he consider moving on.

Perhaps, in the end, he wanted to go out with his legend status intact. Everton’s leading post-war goalscorer in Merseyside derbies, an immense 68 goals in total to his name for a player who was never truly a striker, and countless inspirational winners.

There were so many moments. That audacious overhead kick against Chelsea, a season-altering late winner against Sunderland, those derby goals, and a defiant strike in a Manchester United fight-back.

Even when he wasn’t scoring he was up to something. That head-lock on Xabi Alonso as the Blues raced away to score during a 3-0 rout of Liverpool in 2006, the show of solidarity with Samoan Tsunami victims after scoring in the pouring rain at Bate Borisov, and that trademark jab-cross-jab celebration on corner flags across the country which put a smile on fans’ faces.

A man who sweated every ounce of perspiration for his club, who played through umpteen injuries that would have ruled out many, and absorbed what it really meant to represent the Toffees in a sparsely successful age.

He has certainly achieved a fine legacy – you only have to listen to the outpouring of sadness his departure will trigger among supporters.

And for Everton – in the unsentimental, cold hard light of day – the deal makes imminent sense. While it could not have hurt one iota to retain his finely honed goal grabbing instincts for another year, the Blues save almost £3m in wages and bank a £1m transfer fee.

They have already added Steven Naismith, seven years Cahill’s junior, who can operate in the same role, and can perhaps now afford another recruit in addition to the nearly completed deal for Steven Pienaar.

But for now, forgive Bluenoses if they remain sentimental for a while, and bid farewell to the man from the other side of the world who truly became one of their own.