Tim Cahill has already seen enough from Hayden Hackney to make bold Everton call
Tim Cahill has been full of praise for new Everton player Hayden Hackney.
The 24-year-old midfielder arrived at Finch Farm earlier this summer in an initial £16.5million deal from Middlesbrough.
David Moyes has handed him opportunities already, as he has made six appearances for the Blues so far.
He has featured five times in the Premier League and once in the Carabao Cup under the Scotsman.
Cahill has been impressed with what he has seen from Hackney since he made the move to Merseyside.
The Australian, who has legend status with Evertonians due to his exploits in blue, opened up on what he feels about the current Toffees ace.
What has Tim Cahill said about Hayden Hackney?
Cahill made a bold claim about Hackney: He believes that the young maestro is a better footballer than he was.
The 46-year-old legend also offered advice to the England Under-21 star on how he can reach the required level at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Speaking to the BBC's Giulia Bould in an interview released on Wednesday, he said: “He’ll find his feet when he plays games. With the comparison to me, I think he’s a better footballer than me.
“I think he has got so much more that he can add to his game, but that can only happen with repetition of games.
“That is what happened with me with David Moyes. He gave me a nice role which sat as an eight, 10, six.
“At the same time, I defended just as much as I attacked. I got my goals from being opportunistic.
“Playing for Everton, you have to understand an individual will not last long at the club; a luxury player cannot happen.
“For Hayden, he has a bright future and this is the perfect club for him. It is just about timing, being patient and also just taking the opportunities for him to play."
Those claims will likely surprise most supporters, especially the part about being a better footballer, but how far does he have to go to surpass Cahill?
How can Hackney match Cahill's legacy at Everton?
Cahill played 278 times for the L3 outfit, with 68 goals and 34 assists in that time.
It would be a milestone for Hackney if he could overtake that tally of appearances.
The goalscoring and assist ones are likely harder for him to hit because Cahill was primarily an attacking midfielder, and had a knack for being in the right place at the right time.
What Hackney must do is understand the fans the way that Cahill did, and put his heart on his sleeve every time that he steps on the pitch representing the club.
It would not harm his chances of finding himself in the same revered company, if he could turn up in big games as often as Cahill did too.
The Aussie scored five times in the Merseyside derby, including three strikes at Anfield, and also managed four goals against Arsenal in his time under Moyes.
For Hackney, big-game performances likely won't be represented on the stats sheet, but they will be remember by the supporters, especially if it is a consistent thing.
Winning a trophy and helping to end a drought that stretches over 30 years will also help his case.