Source: Liverpool_Echo
Mikel Arteta injury setback puts Everton FC midfielder out until Christmas
EVERTON have been handed a devastating blow with the news that Mikel Arteta has suffered a setback which could keep him out until Christmas.
The Blues’ midfield talisman underwent an operation in Spain on Tuesday to correct a cartilage problem in lift knee, which he damaged so severely at Newcastle in February.
Arteta had been working overtime in his bid to recover from rupturing his cruciate ligament and was on the verge of a return but now all plans have been put on hold.
Not surprisingly, Arteta – who has remained in Spain since undergoing the procedure – has been left heartbroken by this desperate turn of events.
David Moyes is equally distraught at the prospect of being without the little Spaniard for a minimum of six weeks and is praying that Arteta will come back better than ever.
“Mikel has had another operation which will keep him out for at least another six weeks,” said Moyes. “He just slipped in training and they have tidied up his cartilage.
“He obviously had his cruciate done already and he would probably have been due to join back in training with the lads this week.
“It’s the same knee, when you do your cruciate you normally do your meniscus a little bit, too. The doctors stitch it back up and in the past they used to take the stitches out.
“But they don’t do that now. What has happened is one of the stitches that is holding the meniscus of the cartilage together has pulled apart.
“He’s been in to get that repaired. It goes without saying that it is a terrible blow. He will be upset but I’ve not spoken to him since he had the operation on Tuesday.”
