Everton's Steven Pienaar in race to be fit for Derby County match

Apr 1 2008

Steven Pienaar

STEVEN PIENAAR is battling to be fit for Sunday’s clash with Derby County after he underwent a scan to assess the damage to his injured calf.

The South African, who had only just returned following a bout of gastroenteritis, hobbled off during Sunday’s frustrating 1-0 defeat against Liverpool and left Anfield on crutches.

Fears that he had broken a bone were allayed yesterday, but x-rays showed he has suffered severe bruising to both the calf muscle and bone in his right leg.

Given that Tim Cahill and James Vaughan are both out for the rest of the season and Victor Anichebe and Andrew Johnson are still unfit, being without Pienaar is the last thing David Moyes needs.

In a further blow for the manager, Leon Osman is also receiving intensive treatment for a knock he picked up against Liverpool. and has remained on Merseyside while the vast majority of Everton’s squad have gone to Spain for a four-day warm weather training camp.

Johnson should be ready to return this weekend but Everton’s medical staff will continue to monitor Anichebe, who spent Saturday night in hospital with an illness and had tests to diagnose the cause. of the problem. The results should be known in the next 24-48 hours.

But even though they are down to their bare bones at present, there is a determination in the camp to avert a slide that has seen the Blues collect just one point from the last nine available. and Phil Jagielka has promised there will be an improvement.

“It is a long week until next Sunday,” said Jagielka. “The Derby game is an important game for us. We have got to win and hopefully kick-start our season again.

“There are plenty of points to play for. The result on Sunday hands the initiative to Liverpool but we will be fighting all the way to the end.

“Portsmouth aren't letting go of the chance to play in Europe but we will try and make sure we are the team playing there next season.”

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta’s agent is likely to face a backlash from Evertonians after he claimed the Spaniard would have won international honours had he been at one of the top clubs in the Premier League.

“He is one of Everton’s shining stars and one of the highest rated players in the Premier League,” Inaki Ibanez told the San Sebastien-based newspaper Diario Vasco.

“Mikel Arteta deserves better. If he was playing for one of the best four clubs in England or Spain he would be an international.” under Luis Aragones. I am not exaggerating anything.”