Source: SKY_Sports
Arteta won't rush return
Everton playmaker Mikel Arteta insists he will not rush returning to action from a long-term knee injury.
The Spanish midfielder missed much of the second half of last season's Premier League campaign after suffering a cruciate ligament injury against Newcastle in February.
Arteta is pleased with his recovery from the problem, stating he works between six to eight hours a day on the knee in his bid to regain full fitness.
It has been suggested the 27-year-old could be back in action for the early stages of the new season, although the ex-Real Sociedad and Rangers man is just taking his recovery one day at a time.
"It's going well," he told the club's official website regarding his recovery. "It's a long injury, a six or seven-month injury, so there are always ups and downs during that period.
"But it looks good and it's reacting well to the treatment we are doing. Slowly, day-by-day I know it's getting better and that makes me happy.
"You learn with this injury that the knee reacts differently every day. I'm doing everything. I'm working six, seven, eight hours a day on my knee to get back as soon as possible.
"Obviously I want to hurry but I know that is a big risk. I don't want to set any dates, I just want to go day-by-day. If it's the first game, it's the first game. If it's the fifth game, it's the fifth game. It will be whichever it is."
