Saturday Mar 01 2008 10:10
Everton boss David Moyes remains hopeful that midfield playmaker Mikel Arteta will be able to play on for the rest of the season despite a niggling groin injury.
The 25-year-old Spaniard is a major doubt for the weekend clash with Portsmouth, but Moyes expects Arteta to be ready for action in the near future even if he misses out against Pompey.
He commented: "I don't think it's going to need surgery, that is what I have been told by the medical team.
"He has played a lot of the season with the injury and it has not forced him to rest too much. He could just do with missing a few games here and there.
"He wants to be involved as well, he has got through now for quite a while, so I see no reason why he shouldn't get through the remaining eight to ten weeks of the season."
Arteta joined the Toffees, initially on loan, in January 2005 from Real Sociedad and has scored 15 goals in 104 appearances in all competitions for the Merseysiders.
Have your say on this article