Cahill had an X-ray yesterday before Everton announced on their website, www.evertonfc.com, that he was being referred to a specialist and more details should become clear today.

The player, and David Moyes, will be crossing their fingers that it is not a recurrence of the injury – a problem that would rule the Australian out for at least a couple of months.

Everton have been concerned over Cahill’s recovery, particularly because of the pressures put on him to play for Australia in the Asia Cup this summer.

Cahill was included in the Australia squad after Everton’s medical experts flew out to examine their player.

But the 28-year-old was frequently used only as a substitute in the tournament and did not play a full part in the event.

He returned to Everton last week to start training again, and did not travel out to the USA for a training camp in Los Angeles with the club again showing concerns about his fitness.

Moyes, meanwhile, could also be busy in the transfer market and will make moves to push through an offer of around £6million for Wigan full-back Leighton Baines.

Everton have had one bid of £4million plus a player turned down for Baines, and are now on the brink of making a straight cash offer closer to the one made by Sunderland earlier this summer.

Some of that money could be raised by striker James Beattie’s sale, with Sheffield United hoping to persuade him to drop down a division and spearhead their promotion push.