Have an ice flight Tim
Cahill taking measures to make game
FOOTBALL: Tim Cahill declared that he could not make any promises on his Socceroos availability for Saturday’s World Cup qualifying playoff clash in Honduras.
Cahill (pictured) will spend the bulk of his 26-hour journey to Honduras getting treatment on his ankle after landing awkwardly in Melbourne City’s loss to Sydney FC last Friday.
Speaking just moments before boarding a flight, Cahill said there were no guarantees.
“I don’t know (what my chances are of playing). Total honesty is that I can’t promise anything. But I’m giving myself every chance to be available,” Cahill said.
“All I can promise is my commitment to my country and I’ll do anything possible to be with the team and be available if I can.
“If you see the pictures, it (the ankle) wasn’t great. I know how to speed up recovery. People might think I’m crazy.
“The communication’s been amazing. I’ve been sending shots of the ankle every few hours to (Socceroos physio) Les (Gelis). On the phone every two, three hours. The Socceroos (have been) first class.
“Now I’m flying with Luke Atwell from the Australian medical staff who I’ve worked with for the last 10 years in camp.
“I’ve got an ankle ice machine. I’ve walked through transit with ice pouches on it.
“I’ll be getting medical treatment. We’ve got a 15-hour flight, so I’ll get probably four treatments plus ice on it the whole way there.”
Cahill, whose flight was due to take off at 10.15am (AEST), revealed the extraordinary lengths he has gone to since limping off at AAMI Park on Friday night.
He arranged for his own personal physio Kevin Reynolds and Melbourne City physio Cody Williamson to work on him around the clock at his home for the last 48 hours.
“I take them in my own time, my own time into people that I trust,” he said.
Meanwhile, Football Federation Australia received confirmation yesterday morning that the yellow cards hanging over eight Socceroos players have been cancelled.
Now Tom Rogic, Mile Jedinak, Tomi Juric, Massimo Luongo, Jackson Irvine, Milos Degenek and Josh Risdon will be able to play with a free conscience knowing they will not miss the second leg against Honduras if they are given one yellow card in the first leg.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee had ruled last week that the yellow cards hanging over the heads of Honduras players should be rescinded.