Everton FC News: Everton left sweating on Louis Saha’s fitness

Oct 29 2009 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Everton FC News: EVERTON face an anxious wait to discover if Louis Saha has added to their lengthy injury list.

Saha failed to reappear for the second half of Tuesday’s Carling Cup defeat at Tottenham Hotspur after suffering a calf problem shortly before half-time.

The Frenchman has had the injury assessed by the Goodison medical staff but the duration of any time on the sidelines has yet to be determined.

And Everton are expected to discover more today when Saha undergoes further tests on the problem, with the striker a major doubt for Saturday’s visit of Aston Villa.

Saha’s absence would be another headache for Goodison manager David Moyes, who was without 10 players for the trip to White Hart Lane.

Long-term absentees Phil Jagielka, Phil Neville, Mikel Arteta, Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan have no chance of being available for the weekend while Leon Osman could be missing for up to another three weeks with a chipped bone in his foot.

Joseph Yobo (head), Steven Pienaar (knee), Leighton Baines (calf) and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (thigh) are all being given every chance ahead of Saturday’s game, with Everton looking to halt a run of three successive defeats and score a first win in six.

And Everton head of physio Mick Rathbone is confident the injury concerns will have eased, if only slightly, by the weekend.

“Although we have lots of injuries at the moment all those players who are out are making good progress,” said Rathbone.

“I expect the vast majority of the injured lads to be back in the next few weeks.

“We are hoping to have one or two available for this weekend's match with Aston Villa at Goodison and we then hope to have some more fit for next weekend's trip to West Ham.”

Meanwhile, Torquay United are keen to take Everton youngster Karl Sheppard on trial.

The Coca-Cola League Two club have asked to have a look at Sheppard in training ahead of a possible loan move to Plainmoor.

Sheppard, an 18-year-old who was signed from Shelbourne in the summer of 2007, is a former Republic of Ireland under-16 and U17 international.