Toffee break for Everton, as Australia's Tim Cahill set for summer return

The Everton midfielder, who scored seven Premier League goals last season, is back home in Australia recovering from an operation to end his persistent metatarsal problems.

But Everton are convinced he will be ready for training in July and fit to start the Barclays Premier League season in August.

Fighting fit: Cahill (left) battles with Spurs' Jermaine Jenas, and looks to return to action at Goodison this season

Cahill was out from early March with a recurrence of his injury, and his absence was one of the reasons Everton's season fell away as they failed to clinch a top four spot or get beyond the last-16 of the UEFA Cup.

Cahill recently underwent surgery in Australia, and is recovering well under the watchful eyes of the Socceroos' medical team.

Everton's head physio Mick Rathbone visited the midfielder recently and declared himself happy with the player's progress.

Rathbone said: "I went to Sydney last Monday and saw Tim and we had a meeting with the specialists. We had some new X-rays done and I met with the Australian medical team who are looking after him for a couple of weeks.

"The facilities are fantastic, and I was very impressed with the surgeon."

Cahill recently said that he was confident of being back for the new season, and Rathbone agrees.

He added: "Things seem to be going very well. We discussed the rehab and he gets another X-ray in three weeks, and we will re-evaluate from there."

Another injury-plagued Everton player - young striker James Vaughan - also believes he is on the way to a full recovery and will be ready for pre-season training after more knee problems.

Vaughan also did not play after March, when he returned to the US for a consultation with Dr Richard Steadman, the surgeon who had carried our previous operations on the 19 year-old.

Vaughan said: "The knee feels good. It is a slow rehab but everything is going to plan so far so I should be back for next season.

"Hopefully I can join in pre-season training. By the start of that, I hope to be doing some jogging and running and by the end I may get in a few games."

Vaughan has also expressed his disappointment that veteran midfielder Lee Carsley has left Everton and joined Birmingham.

Birmingham-born Vaughan said: "Lee was one of the big characters in the squad. Everyone loved him, and he will be missed by everyone."

He added: "He is a brilliant player and he seems to be getting better with age. There's no reason why he cannot keep going for a while.

"I hope Birmingham win promotion. I hope so for Lee and for Birmingham, because they are a good team."