Source: Liverpool_Echo
ROYAL BLUE: Everton FC’s 36 steps in a season of toil
IT WAS a night when Evertonians, particularly those who had flown to Lisbon, would take any positives they could get.[LNB]As their last hopes of silverware in the 2009/10 season convulsed and then dropped dead in front of them, Blues could at least take some heart from the sight of another returning hero.[LNB]When Philippe Senderos felt his knee in a tackle and was forced to limp off with 52 minutes of the tie against Sporting on Thursday gone, David Moyes asked Phil Jagielka to return to action for the first time in 10 long months.[LNB]The moment represented the much anticipated last of the Toffees long-term wounded finally coming back. Jagielka had not even had the opportunity to play in a reserve game - the planned fixture was frozen off on Monday, so he was barely match fit and playing on sheer adrenaline.[LNB]But nevertheless the cult hero instantly tightened up a nervy defence, and looked solid and as uncompromising as ever.[LNB]He may not have been able to do much about the resultant scoreline, but his return bodes well for the rest of Everton's now crucial Premier League run-in.[LNB]It was also significant for the history books. Jags became the 36th Everton player to be used in a single season - more players than in any other campaign ever in the club's long history.[LNB]The previous record was 35 in 1888, during the football league's inaugural season. Even during the war years, when squads were naturally larger to account for players fighting for their country, Everton still did not use as many footballers as this current campaign.[LNB]It would take an Evertonian with a long memory and vintage to know if this has been the club's worst season ever for injuries, but it surely cannot be far off.[LNB]It does not make pleasant contemplation, but recall that at various times during this see-saw season David Moyes has been without the following players for a considerable period; Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka, Steven Pienaar, Phil Neville, Jack Rodwell, Dan Gosling, Yakubu and Marouane Fellaini.[LNB]Tim Cahill's latest injury lay-off may not hopefully be for a long time but it could not have been at a worse point of the season.
