New York Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke admits it may be tough to fit Tim Cahill straight into his line-up following a positive run of results.
The Australian midfielder has played just 27 minutes since injuring his hamstring against Chivas USA on March 30 and during that time, the Red Bulls have won two and drawn two of five MLS fixtures.
Petke is well aware his team is on a good run, with two wins from their past three outings, and has no necessity to alter his line-up but he knows just how good a player a fit Cahill is which could prompt him to make a change for the weekend's trip to FC Dallas.
"That's a good problem to have, to be honest with you," Petke said on Tuesday.
"At the moment, we are on somewhat of a run the last three games and for the most part I like the way the team is playing. We're coming together.
"But Tim is a very valuable part of this group and it's easy to fit someone like Tim in when he's 100 percent healthy.
"If he's 100 percent to go then decisions will be made."
Regarding his plans for Cahill's possible inclusion, Petke added: "It's a lot tactically if we play Tim in the midfield.
"I like the defensive stability there and also the threat that he can get forward, but he's very good in the defensive block.
"I could press him forward and like the odds of him getting his head on something up in the box. Like I said, it all comes into play.
" But at the end of the day, he's comfortable playing so many different positions and he's effective playing so many different positions. But the first and foremost thing is for him to be 100 percent healthy."
