Everton Football Club News

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

• Ground:Goodison Park
• Capacity:42,440

Fellaini illness worries Moyes

03 Aug 2009 - 11:45:13

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Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini is a major doubt for the start of the new season after being struck down by illness this summer.

The 21-year-old Belgium international has lost a substantial amount of weight due to the problem, and boss David Moyes is clearly concerned.

He said: "He has had an illness for most of the summer. It got into his blood and he lost a lot of weight. He has not been right all pre-season and is still not right.

"He wasn't a boy who could afford to lose any weight. It's noticeable looking at him how thin he has become. It has definitely had an effect on his overall performance.

"It is going to take a little while I feel for him to get his full strength back. I don't think he is there yet.

"When you are the shape and build he is, when you lose weight it's not all that easy to put it back on.

"Since he has come back we've been trying to get him built up, but the weight is not going back on at the moment."

Fellaini scored nine goals in 35 appearances in his first season at Goodison Park, having moved to England from Standard Liege.