Everton have closed their Bellefield training complex for two days to try to prevent more of the first-team squad contracting the virus which has swept through their ranks in recent weeks.

Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta, James Beattie, Simon Davies and Tim Howard have all played in the past week despite suffering from the bug but it has now prompted the manager, David Moyes, to allow his squad time to recover in relative isolation. "The players have been suffering from throat infections and a virus and it has nearly affected everybody that we have got," he said. "We are hoping that this will clear it up and the players will be feeling better for the Fulham game at the weekend.

"Before the Arsenal game [last Saturday] me and a lot of boys were very ill and we really rallied well together as a team to get that result [1-1].

"We are such a small squad and we showed that as individuals we are nothing but as a team we are everything. That is the main thing about Everton - we are really playing for each other. We are looking forward to having a bit of a rest and getting over a few injuries and illnesses."

Saturday's point at the Emirates Stadium underlines the remarkable transformation Everton have achieved in 2006, losing only five league games from the 28 played. The tail-end of 2005 saw them dumped out of the Champions League in the third qualifying round and then the Uefa Cup and they also struggled in the relegation zone for months.

It is all a reflection of Cahill's form in particular, with the man whose seventh goal of the season earned a point at Arsenal on Saturday managing his first league goal of last term as late as New Year's Eve in a 1-0 win at Sunderland.

"Tim has played much further forward this season than he has in previous seasons," Moyes said yesterday. "But on Saturday he had to play more as a midfield player; when you go to Arsenal I think you have to expect that. But the pitch was full of top-quality attacking midfield players - [Cesc] Fábregas with his passing, [Tomas] Rosicky with his ability to shoot and score from range and the timing of his runs, and Cahill with his all-round power play and heading ability.

"There were top-class players on show and Tim is on a par with them. He is one of the players we rely on heavily. Tim has heart, drive and commitment which carries him over anything he might feel.

"All round he has been a very good player for Everton. He's all for it. He doesn't miss training, he doesn't miss games - he's a tough boy.

"Sometimes we question how much players want to play. It's not a question you can ask about Tim Cahill."