Source: Daily_Mail
Everton's Yakubu is back on track for World Cup after 10 month injury hell
Everton striker Yakubu is aiming to go from injury crock to World Cup hero. [LNB]The Nigerian, who snapped an achilles tendon in November, was buoyed by a call from national team manager Shuaibu Amodu after making his Premier League return as a substitute at Fulham last Sunday and is now pressing to start against Blackburn at Goodison Park this afternoon.[LNB]'I don't know what the team will be but I feel very close to being back to my old self,' said Yakubu, whose last goal for Everton came against Middlesbrough in November. [LNB]'It has been so hard being injured. All you can do is sit around on the sofa. I just wanted to eat all the time because I was bored and I had to be careful that I didn't get fat.[LNB] He's back: Yakubu (left) snapped an achilles tendon in November last year[LNB] 'I watched a lot of DVDs to keep my spirits up. I watched Nigerian movies but also Will Smith movies, particularly Hancock. That was my favourite.[LNB]'It was very encouraging to get a message from the Nigerian coach after I started playing again. I want to play in the World Cup. Nigeria have two qualifying games left (they are second in their group behind Tunisia) and we can make it.'[LNB]Yakubu's first target is playing in the African Cup of Nations in January, when Everton could also lose Joseph Yobo and Victor Anichebe.[LNB]Fighting chance: Yakubu hopes to be wearing the green of Nigeria in South Africa next year[LNB] But at least Goodison boss David Moyes has striking options as his side try to get their league season back on track after winning just once so far. Brazilian loan striker Jo and Louis Saha are battling Yakubu for places, with Everton starting a relatively good run of games, starting today.[LNB]Lars has no time for sentimentThey may have shared the lows of injury together but Lars Jacobsen will offer no sentiment to Yakubu if he plays for Everton this afternoon.[LNB]Jacobsen moved from Goodison Park to Ewood Park during the summer after his time on Merseyside was blighted by a horrific shoulder dislocation while playing for Denmark 12 months ago.[LNB]During his rehabilitation, he was joined in the treatment room by Yakubu, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in November.[LNB]Jacobsen is settled as a new member of Sam Allardyce's squad and Yakubu played 38 minutes without reaction on his comeback during Everton's comfortable 4-0 win over AEK Athens on Thursday.[LNB]Today, Jacobsen will be doing all he can to silence the 26-year-old. 'Yak is a quality striker but I'm hoping he will not score,' he said.[LNB]'Otherwise I wish him all the best. I know the feeling to be out of the game for a long time. It's nice to see him back.'[LNB] EVERTON FC
