Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta could be back to aid the Toffees' increasingly desperate bid to cling onto a UEFA Cup qualification place.The Basque midfielder has been struggling with groin and stomach problems and has been back home in Spain receiving intensive treatment.

And now the signs are he could be in contention for a return in the must-win home clash with Aston Villa on Sunday - the Birmingham side able to leapfrog Everton into fifth spot if they win at Goodison Park.

The good news of Arteta comes as there seems to be a breakthrough in the treatment of attacking midfielder Tim Cahill, who is now back home in Australia awaiting a crucial operation on his persistent broken metatarsal problem.

Cahill is expected to have surgery that the club hope will be the 'ultimate solution' to his problems.

The 28-year-old suffered a recurrence of the injury last month against West Ham and was ruled out for the season.

Now Cahill is in Australia to see a top specialist and have further surgery, probably in the next fortnight.

Cahill said: "I hope to be back for pre-season, ready for Everton's first game of the campaign.

"It is going to be hard work but nothing is going to stop me coming back."

Cahill, who was accompanied to Australia by Everton physio Matthew Connery, also visited UEFA's senior expert in Amsterdam.

Mick Rathbone, the Toffees' head physio, said: "We need to get the operation done in April really if he is to have a chance of being back in time for next season.

"After the procedure there will be quite a lot of down time for him, where he will be able to relax with his family.

"It will probably be his first summer out of competition for around three or four years, so you always try and draw the positives."

Cahill will clearly not be back in action until next season, but boss David Moyes, who should also have Leon Osman available against Villa after his recovery from a hip injury, is boosted by the prospect of Arteta's return.

He said: "Mikel is still in Spain. We have been speaking with him regularly, and he will be back on Friday and hopefully will be available."

Moyes is believed to be chasing two Russian-based players having been in Moscow last weekend to watch a couple of matches.

The Everton boss was understood to be watching CSKA Moscow's Brazilian midfielder Dudu and Zenit St Petersburg star Andrei Arshavin.

Moyes is already planning for next season, having completed the permanent £2.05million deal for South African midfielder Steven Pienaar, having had the former Ajax youngster on loan since last summer.

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