Having been on the injury list for nearly a year, Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta could finally be ready to make a return to first team football next month.

 

The Spaniard has been suffering from torn anterior cruciate ligaments and then managed to pick up an infection following an operation. However, training has been going well and the Merseyside derby at Anfield on February 6^th is a realistic date for Arteta. He told a local paper “I have been doing nearly everything in training with the lads over the last week and I am hoping to start doing contact work this coming week. After that, whenever the manager says Mikky you’re ready – I am there.”

It is great news for boss David Moyes who has battled through the best part of a season and half with an injury list almost as long as his squad list. Dan Gosling and Jack Rodwell are also very close to a return to full training and haven’t been ruled out from playing a part in the FA Cup game against Birmingham City. Both picked up injuries in European action but Moyes can finally look forward to a point when he may have a fully fit squad to chose from. The young Toffee stars both suffered hamstring injuries but rehabilitation has gone well and they have returned much quicker than originally