Everton Football Club News

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

• Ground:Goodison Park
• Capacity:42,440

Vaughan feared for career

08 Apr 2007 - 07:43:22

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Everton teenager James Vaughan admitted he feared for his career after being sidelined for over a year with a serious knee injury.

Vaughan scored in the Good Friday 4-1 rout of Fulham, but 12 months ago the 18-year-old academy graduate was in America undergoing surgery to rebuild a damaged knee.

The Birmingham-born youngster has now made ten appearances for the Toffees this season, having first risen to prominence by becoming the youngest scorer in Premiership history.

Vaughan scored the last goal in a 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace in April 2005 to break James Milner's record.

"It has been a long way back for me since the injury - I was out for almost 15 months. In fact, it was 12 months this week that I had the knee operation in Colorado," revealed Vaughan

"At that point, I didn't know whether I would play again so I'm just enjoying every moment now.

"I was terrified I would not play again. But I had fantastic support from my family, the coaches and people at Everton and my friends. Because of them, I have got back playing again.

"There's not a problem at all now, touch wood, and I am really enjoying the challenge of playing against Premier League defenders.

"They are all tough and difficult, but I just love being in the side and playing against that sort of quality. I hope it will just keep going."