Howard waiting but still hope for Gravesen

Sep 13 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Tim Howard (158)

TIM HOWARD is facing a race against time to be fit for Saturday’s showdown with Manchester United – but Everton have not given up hope of Thomas Gravesen being available.

The Goodison medical team have still been unable to ascertain the extent of the damage to the dislocated finger Howard suffered while on international duty with the United States last weekend.

Although the goalkeeper returned to Merseyside earlier this week, the injury remains sufficiently swollen to prevent any precise diagnosis.

Only when that subsides will Everton make a decision on whether Howard should undergo a scan and be able to determine the length of any possible absence.

And with visit of champions United a little more than 48 hours away, Stefan Wessels is on standby to make his debut following his arrival from German Bundesliga side Cologne last month.

David Moyes’s preparations for Saturday’s noon kick-off have also been struck by a knee injury to Gravesen.

The Danish midfielder sustained the blow during training, with reports yesterday suggesting the 31-year-old would now be sidelined for a fortnight.

But Everton believe the damage is only minor and have not yet ruled Gravesen out of a chance to make his first appearance at Goodison at the weekend since returning on a season-long loan from Celtic.

There was some positive injury news yesterday, however, with Tim Cahill being given the all clear to begin running after scans on his damaged left foot.

Cahill missed the final three months of last season with a broken metatarsal and suffered an injury in the same area of the foot during the friendly against Werder Bremen in July six weeks ago.

Now the Australian has been given the green light to step up his rehabilitation, although he remains weeks away from a first-team return.

“I had an X-ray yesterday and it is positive,” said Cahill to evertonTV yesterday. “I will be running and for me it is amazing.”