Source: Liverpool_Echo
Everton cavalry is coming says a delighted David Moyes
TOUCH wood, fingers crossed and any other possible good luck ritual you can think of - because Everton's injured cavalry could finally be about to return in the nick of time.[LNB]At times this season David Moyes could have been forgiven for wondering if he was living his own version of a footballing Groundhog Day.[LNB]Every morning a new player would fall victim to the injury curse that almost left his plans for the season in tatters.[LNB]While physio Baz Rathbone's office may have resembled Piccadilly Circus, first team training sessions were increasingly becoming a case of 'spot the senior player'.[LNB]Now the Everton manager can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, and he believes the return of key personnel will ignite the Blues' fortunes for the second part of the season.[LNB]He said: 'Mikel Arteta joined in training this week but it was non-contact.[LNB]'It was his first touch of the ball. Victor Anichebe has done a little bit over the last few days and is improving.[LNB]'Dan Gosling, Jack Rodwell and Sylvain Distin are all close. Sylvain probably the closest.[LNB]'They are all going in the right direction. Phil Jagielka also began running this week. We are starting to see some old faces looking like new faces.[LNB]'Instead of training with 10-12 players maximum, we are seeing 16-18 on the training ground.[LNB]'Having such a small group of players can help them bond strongly in the short-term, but when you've had it for three or four months it eventually drives you under a little bit.[LNB]'The players have been looking for support and help, and we've not been able to give them that as we haven't had the players to back them up through the Premier League and European campaign.[LNB]'Steven Pienaar, Phil Neville and James Vaughan have had to come straight in with little preparation.[LNB]'We've had to do things that ideally you probably wouldn't do. I wouldn't say they were risks, but we've had to do it because we've been so short of players.[LNB]'We aren't relying on the young players to join training now. We are seeing a sprinkling of the senior ones coming back. That raises the standard and quality, and players get a lift from seeing the faces who they hope would be available for most of the season.[LNB]'It's certainly given the staff a lift. It's not there yet, but at least it looks like there are some shoots of recovery coming from the injured players.'
