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Socceroos midfielder Tim Cahill admits he’s feeling the pressure in his new job as Everton’s lone striker despite making a seamless transition into the role.
Injuries to strikers Yakubu, James Vaughan, Victor Anichebe and Louis Saha have seen Cahill thrust into the forefront of attack in recent weeks and he has responded in style.
The Australian scored in English Premier League wins over Manchester City and Middlesbrough in sixth-placed Everton’s unbeaten run over their past four matches.
Cahill didn’t score in Sunday’s 3-0 home win over Sunderland and said he felt he had to keep giving his absolute best up front to hang on to his place in the team.
“There is a lot of pressure,” said Cahill, who has scored four league goals so far in an injury-hit season.
“If we don’t score or don’t win, then people are going to start calling on the striker and want someone else to play there.
“I’m not in a win-win situation.
“I have to work very hard to keep my place and put pressure on defences, because I feel that I need to work hard for the team.
“I just think that for the manager to have the faith in me to play up there on my own means I’m going to take that opportunity and do it for the team.”
Cahill has faced increased competition in Everton’s midfield this season from summer signing Marouane Fellaini and at times has had to play a more defensive role.
But he said the Belgian international and the likes of Sunday’s two-goal hero Mikel Arteta had helped to make his job as striker easier in recent weeks.
“It’s a lot harder work,” Cahill said.
“It’s very difficult but I get help from Fellaini and the lads coming forward.
“Felli is a great lad and a great player.
“He covers a lot of ground and he seems to be attacking a lot and we’re playing off each other, but we’re trying to get the most out of ourselves for the team and it’s starting to work like that and the team is benefiting from it.
“You see where we’re sat in the table and hopefully we can progress even higher.”
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