Socceroos star Tim Cahill cleared of serious injury but FFA delay travel arrangements to Honduras by a day

A DELAYED departure to Honduras would give Tim Cahill the best chance of availability for Saturday’s high stakes World Cup qualifier, key Socceroos staff decided.

Tim Cahill of Melbourne City walks off after injuring his ankle during the round 2 Melbourne City FC and Sydney FC match at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Friday, November 3, 2017. (AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

UPDATE: A DELAYED departure to Honduras would give Tim Cahill the best chance of availability for Saturday’s high stakes World Cup qualifier, key Socceroos staff decided.

He is regarded as a 50-50 prospect for the first leg clash in San Pedro Sula after straining his right ankle ligaments in Melbourne City’s loss to Sydney FC on Friday.

Cahill and the Socceroos masseur’s flights were delayed 24 hours. They depart at 11.15am on Monday.

Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou and head physio Les Gelis made the call after consulting with Cahill and Melbourne City’s medical chief Andrew McKenzie.

The importance of Cahill’s availability is heightened with in-form Robbie Kruse (knee) ruled out of the first leg, staying in Germany to rehab before joining the squad in Sydney along with suspended Mathew Leckie, who is battling a hamstring strain.

Things didn’t look so good for Tim Cahill initially.

Cahill will arrive in Honduras on Monday night along with the bulk of the squad, almost four days before kick-off.

He will be assessed before being eased into training with the key tests to take place on Wednesday and Thursday.

Even if Cahill is deemed unfit to take part in the first leg, his ‘street smarts’ will play a vital role as the Socceroos enter the Honduran cauldron in coming days.

Akin to the Montevideo trips of 2001 and 2005, the locals are bound to employ all sorts of tricks before and during the clash at the 40,000-capacity Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano.

The Socceroos are already without experienced Melbourne Victory midfielder Mark Milligan (suspended) for the first leg.

Robbie Kruse won’t be travelling to Honduras.

But Cahill, 37, is working around the clock to be available after his two-goal heroics against Syria.

Cahill has been anchored at home, working feverishly to reduce swelling, with his ankle in a constant rotation of icing, compression and massage before he embarks on his 26-hour flight.

McKenzie and City physio Cody Williamson have visited Cahill, to ensure his movement was limited.

The unknown is how the ankle will react after the long-haul flight, which includes two stopovers.

Postecoglou would’ve had an idea of how he was going to use Cahill – who was an unused sub away to Syria before playing 120 minutes in the return leg – in the playoffs.

The Socceroos also have the option of jabbing Cahill’s ankle as a last resort.

Cahill will be desperate to feature, but they won’t risk his availability for the ANZ Stadium decider on November 15.

Originally published as Socceroos star Tim Cahill cleared of serious injury but FFA delay travel arrangements to Honduras by a day