Everton FC News: EVERTON yesterday parted company with Head of Sports Medicine Mick Rathbone.
Rathbone has been at the club for more than eight years, joining a few months after David Moyes took over as manager at Goodison since March 2002.
The 51-year-old had earlier spent six years at Preston North End, latterly as part of Moyes’s backroom staff.
Moyes said: “I would like to personally thank Mick for the contribution he has made to Everton since his arrival in 2002.
“He has played an important role behind the scenes for the past eight seasons since joining us from Preston, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish him all the very best.”
Everton have suffered a succession of serious injury problems during recent seasons, with Phil Jagielka, Phil Neville and Mikel Arteta further hampered by setbacks during their rehabilitation.
Neville is fighting to be fit for the start of the season after undergoing surgery to correct a problem on the knee he first damaged back in September.
Marouane Fellaini is also striving to be available for the Premier League kick-off as he recovers from the ankle damage sustained in February’s Merseyside derby at Anfield.
But while the new campaign will come too soon for Dan Gosling, the 20-year-old’s knee injury suffered in March is not as bad as first feared.
Meanwhile, new Everton signing Jan Mucha has revealed Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was behind his decision to move to Goodison.
Mucha, who will appear for Slovakia in the forthcoming World Cup finals, will officially complete his transfer next month after his contract with Legia Warsaw expires.
The keeper became friends with Fabianski during their time together at Legia before the Pole’s move to the Emirates three years ago.
And Mucha said: “We are still good friends and we have kept in touch since his transfer to Arsenal.
“I played with him for two years in Legia. I actually consulted with Fabianski before I signed with Everton and he recommended the club to me.”
The 27-year-old, who has already met his new team-mates at Finch Farm, added: “The family atmosphere at the club appealed to me and the people all seemed nice. Of course, the chance to play in the Premier League was a big attraction too.
“It was very nice at the training ground. I felt very welcome there so everything is positive.
“I have done some practising with Tim Howard. He is a good lad.
“I am looking forward to playing at Goodison Park.
“I have been inside the stadium when it’s empty to have a look and it is great.”
