Everton FC News: Injured midfielder Mikel Arteta suffers another setback in his recovery

Nov 4 2009 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Everton FC News: MIKEL ARTETA has suffered a second setback in his recovery from cruciate ligament damage –with Everton fearing the midfielder may require another operation.

Arteta has been sidelined since February 22 after suffering the injury just seven minutes into the goalless draw at Newcastle United.

The Spanish midfielder, who has continued much of his rehabilitation in his home country, had surgery in September to repair stitches in his cartilage.

But further complications mean the 27-year-old could go under the knife again with Everton having accepted he may now not be back in action until the New Year.

Arteta is among several Everton players to have suffered long-term injuries this year, although Phil Jagielka and Phil Neville are hopeful of a first-team return this month. And Neville is convinced Everton can exact revenge on Benfica when the pair clash again in what the skipper believes will be a “special night” at Goodison tomorrow.

An under-strength Everton slumped to their heaviest-ever defeat in European competition when they were thrashed 5-0 in Lisbon a fortnight ago.

David Moyes’s side host the Portuguese for the return Europa League Group I game still without a clutch of first-team regulars.

Club captain Neville is among those missing as he continues to recover from a knee injury suffered at Fulham in September.

But the 32-year-old believes Everton can prove the loss at the Estadio da Luz was only a blip in their European campaign.

“It is good that the game has come round quickly after the defeat over in Portugal,” said Neville. “The scoreline was flattering to Benfica and we all believed that if we’d have travelled there with a few more experienced players then we’d have given them a game and beaten them. We do fancy our chances at Goodison.

“Benfica at Goodison is the type of game everybody wants to play in because they are a massive club. They have got world class players and I know it will be one of those special nights at Goodison.”

On-loan striker Jo was in the beaten side at Benfica and is vying for a place in attack with Yakubu and Louis Saha.

And despite the defeat, the Brazilian reckons Everton should still be considered major contenders for the Europa League. Jo said: “I think we have everything we need to win the Europa League this season.

“I’m taking into account there are still some major clubs to drop down from the Champions League in the next round, but I still think we have all the assets required to win it.

“We need to qualify through the group first though and I’ll be doing everything in my power to help us get into that next round.

“Everybody wants to ply their trade in the best competitions in the world and the Europa League and the Champions League are the places where the clubs really want to be. When a player takes that stage he wants to show his best. But the Premier League is also the best league in the world and my effort will always be the same whether I’m playing in the Premier League or in Europe. I always want to show the supporters my best.”

Both Yakubu and Joseph Yobo have been included in Nigeria’s squad for their final World Cup qualifier away to Kenya on November 14.

Nigeria trail Tunisia by two points in their group and must win in Nairobi to stand any chance of qualifying.