CAHILL PENS NEW DEAL

Tim Cahill has handed Everton boss David Moyes a huge fillip ahead of Tuesday's game with Villarreal after putting pen-to-paper on a new contract.

The Blues midfielder has signed a new and improved five-year deal, which replaces the existing one he signed 12 months ago when arriving from Millwall.

Cahill enjoyed an impressive first campaign in the Premiership, ending up as the club's top scorer and being touted by many as the buy of the season.

Everton moved swiftly to recognise the 26-year-old's contribution and sat down with his representatives to discuss the possibility of extending his stay.

Now following extensive talks everything has been agreed and the Australian midfielder will remain an Everton player until the end of the 2009/10 season.

Moyes told evertonfc.com: "We are pleased because it became a little bit more messy than we expected it to be.

"We want to try and keep our best players, we have always said that and now we have put that to bed.

"Tim was going to be here for the long term anyway but we wanted to make sure he was secured.

"He showed throughout last season his value to us and we are just happy that we have now got him on a longer term deal."

Cahill himself is delighted that his contract situation has finally been sorted and that will allow him to focus on starting off on his priorty - football.

He told evertonfc.com: "All the talk that has been going on hasn't helped but we knew we would come to a resolution. It was just a matter of sitting down with the gaffer and club properly.

"It is done now and I am happy and all I can say it is another dream come true, another five years at the club I love and at the one that gave me my chance."