TIM Cahill has called for fresh investment to help carry Everton into the top four of the Premier League.

The attacking midfielder has been the heartbeat of Everton’s impressive season but even he could not stop Chelsea lifting the FA Cup at Wembley after a 2-1 win.

Cahill will have an ongoing hip problem assessed over the next couple of days to decide whether he can join up with Australia’s World Cup squad, but it was matters of a domestic nature that weighed most heavily on his mind after Saturday’s loss.

Cahill said: ‘‘Hopefully there will be the investment needed to improve the squad.

‘‘Now we have a good platform for next season. We have a lot of great youngsters to come in, some were on the bench at Wembley – Jose Baxter, Jack Rodwell, James Vaughan.

‘‘We have a lot of fresh talent, and I just pray to God that all the lads stick together and stay here, and next season we can all come back and give it another good go.

‘‘I’ve played 30-40 games, got my goals, and I aim to have a massive impact next season.

‘‘My hip is pretty sore, but you get loads of knocks in football and you have to get on with it.

‘‘I’m very proud of the lads, proud of the club and everyone involved here.

“The fans have been amazing and considering the injury problems we have had with a very small squad, what we have achieved is tremendous for Everton.’’ Saturday marked Cahill’s second FA Cup final defeat having reached the showpiece event in 2004 with Millwall.

He said: ‘‘I am very passionate about the fans and the club that I play for.

‘‘But we beat some really good Premier League sides to get to Wembley, and we finished fifth in the table. Don’t forget that makes us the fifth-best team in the country and we pushed Chelsea into a very good performance to beat us.”