Source: Team_Talk
Arteta fit to face Rangers
Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta is ready to face QPR at Goodison Park this weekend despite missing key parts of pre-season through injury.[LNB] The Spaniard injured a foot on the club's tour to the United States last month and although fears he had broken a bone were quickly dismissed, it impeded his preparation.[LNB]However, he played 67 minutes of a friendly with Bohemians in Ireland on Monday night - hastily arranged after the Toffees' opening league match at Tottenham was postponed because of the London riots - and feels ready for action.[LNB]"It's good to be back. I nearly broke my foot in a tackle in America," the 29-year-old told the Liverpool Echo.[LNB]"Thankfully it wasn't but it took a couple of weeks to find out due to the swelling.[LNB]"I couldn't train but hopefully now I can get my fitness back and start the season properly.[LNB]"It was not ideal because in pre-season you want to take part in every session and play all the games to get in the best condition possible for the start.[LNB]"But it's not been the case. I've been working really hard in the last 10 days and we'll see how I do in the game against QPR.[LNB]"I will tell you how far I am off full fitness after the game on Saturday.[LNB]"It will obviously be very different in front of your own crowd at your own stadium and there is the adrenaline of a Premier League football game. The tempo will be different."[LNB]Arteta's return to fitness will be a boost to manager David Moyes, who opted not to play Louis Saha, Leighton Baines, Tim Cahill and Phil Jagielka in the match in Ireland.[LNB]The delay in starting their league campaign has no doubt helped the playmaker in his recovery and the match in Ireland was also a useful exercise for other players catching up with the rest of the squad in terms of fitness.[LNB]Assistant manager Steve Round was pleased to see the Spaniard come through more than an hour without any problems, with a few others also getting some useful game time.[LNB]"He has taken another step closer to being fully fit," Round told evertontv.[LNB]"He has missed most of pre-season with a foot injury and now he has got those minutes under his belt, which is important.[LNB]"The game also got Marouane Fellaini, Mikel, Jack Rodwell and Tony Hibbert more minutes and they need that having missed bits and bobs during the summer."
