Premier League - Everton have defensive concerns

Eurosport - Fri, 27 Jun 10:30:00 2008

Everton boss David Moyes could be without both Joseph Yobo and Tony Hibbert when the new campaign kicks off.

FOOTBALL 2007-2008 Premier League Everton Tony Hibbert - 0

Hibbert has been struggling with a knee injury picked up at the back end of last season, with the full-back still not sure whether he will need surgery.

And Yobo could be missing as well following confirmation the Toffees' influential central defender has been plagued by an ankle injury during Nigeria's recent World Cup qualifying programme.

"I have had an ankle injury for a while," confirmed Yobo.

"I was supposed to rest it but we had crucial games to play and were short at the back so I just had to force myself to play."

Yobo is now on an extended break and Moyes must hope the rest allows the player's injury to recover naturally.

However, Hibbert is crossing his fingers surgery will not be required on an injury sustained at Arsenal last year which turned out to be far worse than he initially feared.

"When I did it, I felt okay," he told the Liverpool Daily Post.

"We didn't realise at first how bad it was. I have had tweaks in my knees before and it didn't feel anywhere near as bad.

"But the scan was 10 times worse. I ruptured my medial ligaments. They have basically come completely off the bone at the top where the nerve endings are, which is why I wasn't getting much pain."

Meanwhile, Everton chairman Keith Wyness has backed calls for a redistribution of cash for clubs involved in European competition.

While teams competing in the Champions League net vast sums, Everton pocketed only £800,000 from their run to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup.

The Goodison Park outfit are in the secondary competition as well this season but Wyness claims that unless the disparity in income changes, there is no chance of making the elite.

"If the current situation continues then clubs simply will not be able to compete and the gaps in domestic leagues across Europe will become larger and larger," Wyness told www.everton.com

"That outcome would not only be dangerous but also be a disservice to supporters who follow their clubs home and abroad.

"At Everton our aim is to bridge the gap in the Premier League.

"We certainly believe we are moving in the right direction following the progress the team has made over the last few seasons and are now calling on the football authorities in Europe to aid us in our bid."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 9 of 9

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  1. and a good attack where did that come from. you losers

    From Mick P, on Mon 30 Jun 12:33PM

  2. thats what i mean loses ball to easily you need some talent there but nobody any good will want to join such a cowboy outfit you say you have done well under moyes what have you done. nothing, he is a mickymouse manager with a mickymouse team the rest of the country can see it even portsmouth are going to be a bigger team than your lot. you wont finish anywhere near the top six this year you have had your little bit of luck

    From Mick P, on Mon 30 Jun 12:31PM

  3. Mick P for plonker, you aint got a clue, since Moyes'y has been there we have had better consistency, a better team and Everton are slowly moving up. Just because your team is probably a bunch of old ladies!

    I hope Kenwright can sort out some dough, as we could do with another defender, and another midfielder. He shouldn't have got rid of Carsley but Lee wanted to go, but maybe we should have got rid of Osman has he loses the ball too much, especially when we are on a good attack.

    From madalainasmith, on Sun 29 Jun 6:48PM

  4. no i am not a liverpool fan, i am a football fan, sorry to say everton dont know what that is, ,you know your players are well overated there nothing players.most other teams have at least 3 or more real qaulity players. you have none ha ha ha. tough

    From Mick P, on Sat 28 Jun 7:53PM

  5. Are you a Liverpool fan by any chance?

    Trying extremely hard to wind people up....

    He's only fought relegation battles??? You are off the pace there

    From Richard P, on Fri 27 Jun 6:24PM

  6. everton they are just a average side that has been lucky for two seasons no class no talent no style you need a decent manager how long has he been there whats he done fought a couple of relegation battles

    From Mick P, on Fri 27 Jun 5:55PM

  7. WTF you on about, we can't get in it because the so called top four get all the money not, just from champs leagues but i lost count of how many time man utd was on sky sports last year, so how about a fair deal to all prem clubs and that just aint money either !

    From robbrownie2004, on Fri 27 Jun 3:02PM

  8. if you want parity of money the clubs in the champions league get try playing in it rather than getting in it and going out in the first qualifier. you want money earn it rather than saying you should get it because the other clubs have it.

    From PAUL N, on Fri 27 Jun 2:55PM

  9. Well Mr Moyes, don't sign that contract to you get the money to spend, its about time our board let you have a spending spree and pppppppppllllllllllleeeeeeeeaaaaaaassssssssseeeee dont sell AJ, he was awesome in europe last year, think Joe Ledley from Cardiff, well be worth a 4 mil bid? Go and get Engalar he can be an awesome replacement for Super Lee, don't think we need a forward tho it wud be nice to have a good bench, think Joaquin is worth a mention, he'll be worth a look , i know he can't get in the Spain squad but neither can Mikel, so maybe he can be as good!
    But lets not buy and ruch b4 the deadline get them signed now so they can have a good pre-season with the lads !

    From robbrownie2004, on Fri 27 Jun 11:44AM
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