Everton Football Club News

• Nickname:Toffees
• Founded:1878
• Manager:David Moyes

• Ground:Goodison Park
• Capacity:42,440

Arteta booked in for surgery

25 Feb 2009 - 15:08:21

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Stricken Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta will have surgery on his ruptured cruciate knee ligaments in Spain early next week.

The 26-year-old will miss the rest of the season due to the damage in his right knee, having been injured in the goalless draw with Newcastle United last weekend.

Toffees physio Mick Rathbone told the club's official website: "We are going to Barcelona on Monday to see the knee specialist over there.

"We think he will operate on Tuesday and we will take it from there. Mikel is a very mature, strong guy and he's already talking about the start of next season."

Meanwhile, Everton have been linked with a summer move to sign Portsmouth's Croatia international Niko Kranjcar.

The 24-year-old has scored ten goals in 89 appearances for Pompey since his arrival from Dinamo Zagreb, but has stated that he expects to move on at the end of the season.