Injured Everton midfielder Tim Cahill has insisted he will be ready to return for the club's pre-season training programme.

The Australian star flew back to his homeland on Tuesday, where he will have foot surgery to repair a broken metatarsal. He has suffered the injury three times in the last year.

Cahill has been accompanied on the trip by Everton physio Matthew Connery and he will undergo a 12-week rehabilitation period.

"I hope to be back for pre-season ready for the first game of Everton's next season," Cahill told Fox Sports.

"I'm just going to work hard and nothing's going to stop me coming back.

"The aim is to fix the problem for good. I've missed a lot of football and I'm determined to do whatever it takes to prevent another recurrence.

"My aim is to be back fitter and stronger for next season, and I have no doubt I'll achieve that."

Meanwhile, Cahill could have some new competition on his hands next season in midfield.

Manager David Moyes was in Russia over the weekend and took in the matches CKSA v Lokomotiv Moscow and Saturn v Zenit St Petersburg.

It is believed Zenit's outstanding captain Andrei Arshavin was the main reason for the personal check, although CSKA's Dudu is also on his list of possible targets.

Whilst Moyes was in Russia he also dispatched a scout to Holland to check on Nigerian defender Dele Adeleye.

The international stopper is currently plying his trade with Sparta Rotterdam.

TeamTalk / Eurosport