Source: Daily_Mail
The Yak is back! Everton boss David Moyes excited by Yakubu return
Everton boss David Moyes was delighted with the performance of Ayegbeni Yakubuafter the striker continued his return from injury against Aston Villayesterday. [LNB]Yakubu was sidelined for almost a year with a ruptured Achilles tendon but madehis second start of the week in the 1-1 draw at Goodison Park. [LNB]The Nigerian, who had a hand in Diniyar Bilyaletdinov's opener for the Toffees,completed 90 minutes before being replaced by Jo in stoppage time.[LNB] Back in the game: Yakubu[LNB]'Yak is definitely showing signs of getting back,' Moyes said. [LNB]'The injury was a nine-month injury, but it might take another nine months toget back to the level that you were at. With a ruptured Achilles you have to try and get the elasticity back into itand that doesn't just come at the end of the nine months. [LNB]'That comes with games and jumping and twisting and turning, but I can seebits of sharpness coming. I've got to say he's doing well. I'm pleased that his recovery is going inthe right direction and he is looking more like the old Yak.' [LNB]Bilyaletdinov had given Everton the lead in first half stoppage-time beforesubstitute John Carew levelled for Villa two minutes after the break.The result halted a run of three consecutive defeats for the Toffees, who stillhave a host of players unavailable through injury.[LNB][LNB]Battle: Yakubu tussles with Richard Dunne in the 1-1 draw against Aston Villa[LNB]Moyes admitted that the circumstances had been testing but praised the battlingspirit of his team.[LNB]'The one thing Everton have got is resilience but we are introducing half adozen players who might have come from clubs where they aren't resilient,'Moyes said. [LNB]'I have had to try and get that into them quickly and make them recognise andrealise what we want and demand from them. It is hard in the short term and when you play Thursday then Sunday and youare not getting much chance to prepare. [LNB]'But that's the job and I'm sure we will get it soon. I thought there were a few who were like that - a bit tougher, a bit meanerwho were trying to make sure we didn't give too much away.' [LNB]After the three matches between Everton and Villa produced 15 goals last year,yesterday's encounter was a more bruising affair which came to life in the dyingminutes with a red card for each side. [LNB]Bilyaletdinov was given his marching orders for a challenge on Stilian Petrovbefore Cuellar, who had earlier been booked, received a second yellow card forupending Yakubu despite clearly winning the ball. [LNB]Martin O'Neill appeared to pull off a masterstroke in putting on goalscorerCarew for James Milner at half-time, but the Villa manager admitted he had doneso primarily to retain the physical presence of his side.[LNB]'James Milner was struggling a little bit with a calf injury and he continuedon manfully until half-time,' O'Neill said. [LNB]'But with them scoring just before half-time, if it continued in the same veinwhere there was not as much football being played here as there has been in therecent past between Everton and ourselves, then it was important to match up andtry and get a bit of strength.'[LNB] Eight players see red in Premier League day of shameEverton 1 Aston Villa 1: Bilyaletdinov the hero and villain EVERTON FC
