For the first time in eight years, Everton's Tim Cahill will take a break over the European summer. The 31-year old attacking midfielder will take time off Australian national team duties in June and July with the blessing of head coach Holger Osieck and he admits he cannot wait to finally have some time to himself.
"It's surreal that it's taken so long to have a rest," Cahill told the Daily Telegraph.
"There are only so many years you can go without giving your body the chance for a proper recovery.
"For the first time I can remember I get six to eight weeks to switch off, rejuvenate and get ready for the pre-season.
"I'm not complaining in the slightest, but two World Cups, World Cup qualifiers, two Asian Cups, an Olympics and a Confederations Cup is a lot of non-stop football."
Cahill has been restricted to just a bit-part role since he returned from playing for the Socceroos at the Asian Cup because of a foot injury and he said that trying to come back to the English Premier League when not 100% is a lot harder than it seems.
"The pitches at the Asian Cup were very hard. We played every couple of days and all the knocks you develop then get magnified in the Premier League," he added.
He also said that the 1-0 loss to Japan in the final was the Australian team's own doing.
"We lost it ourselves," he said. "We had the chances and created plenty of opportunities but conceded to a piece of clinical finishing, so you can't regret too much.
"The whole experience was one of the best parts of my career, and I'm not the type to dwell on things anyway. I was over [the disappointment] straight away.
"There's barely been time to think about it when you rush straight back to the Premier League."
