Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Cahill: I feared it was gall over...
GARY CAHILL has admitted he thought his season was over after revealing the illness which has plagued his whole career. Cahill missed the FA Cup semi-final because of a long-standing gallbladder problem, which caused him so much pain he spent a night in hospital. The Chelsea defender says he feared it would need an operation, which would rule him out of the run-in, and also admitted he will have to manage it for the rest of his life. “It was causing me a lot of pain and that’s why we went to hospital to check it all out. They kept me in to keep an eye on everything,” said the 31-year-old. “It’s something I’ve had since I was small. I have been aware of it and it is just a matter of keeping an eye on it. “The worst thing was if they had to take it out – that would have set me back for the season. I was happy that wasn’t the case. “There have been times when I know it’s going to come on and I’d take some strong painkillers for it.” It has not been an easy week for Cahill, who also has battle scars on his forehead from a challenge in training in the build-up to Chelsea’s win over Southampton. But that did not stop him putting his head in where it hurts to score the second goal in a crucial 4-2 win for Antonio Conte’s men. He added: “It’s a good end to the week because it has been a nightmare for me personally. “It was so frustrating watching at Wembley, but at the same time I was delighted, it was fantastic.”