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Injury-crippled Toffees face bleak stretch

Comment: 0 January 6th, 2012 by: admin

EVERTON’s campaign this season hit another snag with the fresh injury suffered by their key defender Phil Jagielka.

The England international suffered damaged ligaments in his right knee during their 2-1 loss to Bolton last Tuesday night.

His misfortune made Jagielka the biggest name among four players currently injured for the Toffees.

Jagielka, who left Goodison Park in crutches after they bowed to the Trotters, could be out for a month and will miss the squad’s vital outings beginning with the FA Cup tie against Tamworth on Saturday.

Everton boss David Moyes is also apprehensive by the absence of attacking midfielder Leon Osman, right-back Tony Hibbert and midfielder Jack Rodwell in their coming fixtures.

Osman has been showing impressive performance for the Trotters this term but was troubled by a knee problem, forcing Moyes to have him substituted against Bolton.

On the other hand, Hibbert sustained a groin injury also during that match and could likewise be out for 30 days.

Hibbert’s latest setback came at a time when he managed to ward off several injuries and to gain the nod of Fabio Capello for England’s friendlies last November against Sweden and Spain. Hibbert is also being eyed by Chelsea.

Rodwell injured his rib against Sweden and then his hamstring while training. After having another setback before their tussle against Norwich last month, he returned against West Brom on New Year’s Day but was subbed after replacing Jagielka against Bolton. Rodwell has only played for 103 minutes since Nov. 15.

To lessen the impact of Jagielka’s absence, Moyes called in Ireland defender Shane Duffy to back up John Heitinga and Sylvain Distin. Providing the team a glimmer of hope is the imminent return of Marouane Fellaini who was sidelined by a groin injury.

Goalkeeper Tim Howard, who scored a freak goal against the Trotters from 90 yards, said their performance was ‘unacceptable.’

The loss kept Everton at 11^th while Bolton moved up to 18^th, off from the bottom.

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