Position: Midfielder
Born: 06.12.79
Club: Everton

Despite his achievements in an action-packed two years, Tim Cahill remains one of the most underrated players in world football.

Fresh from helping Everton finish fourth in the Premiership in the 2003/04 season - he was the Toffees' top scorer with 11 goals in his first top-flight campaign - Cahill was the inspiration for the Socceroos booking their World Cup ticket.

Seven goals saw him lead the Australian scorers - outscoring any of his team-mates by three goals - and tie with Fijian Veresa Toma at the top of the Oceania qualifying section.

Not bad for a midfielder - and all this at the end of almost two years of continuous football. No wonder he was given a rest by club boss David Moyes after the play-off defeat of Uruguay.

Yet you won't hear a word of complaint from Cahill, a man who left everything he knew behind him at the tender age of 16 in attempt to 'live the dream' of playing professional football.

At that stage he had already made his international debut for Western Samoa Under-20s, an appearance that ruled him ineligible to represent Australia - until FIFA changed their laws in 2004, allowing him to be called almost immediately into the Olympic squad that year.

By that stage Cahill was an integral part of the Millwall team and following their FA Cup final appearance it was no surprise that he got his chance to step up a level with Everton.

Needless to say, given the manner Cahill has taken every chance offered to him, he grasped it and was the Toffees' player of the year as they finished fourh in the English top-flight.

Always keen to get forward and with an unerring eye for a goal, Cahill is also aware of his defensive responsibilities and is a true box-to-box midfielder.