Everton midfielder Tim Cahill's World Cup hopes are in severe doubt after the Merseyside club revealed he is set to be be sidelined for six weeks with knee ligament damage.

The 26-year-old Australian suffered the injury during the Toffees' goalless draw with Birmingham on Saturday and will definitely not play club football again this season.

Cahill had a scan on the injury on Monday and visited a specialist on Tuesday for a full assessment of the problem.