Steven Pienaar: Doubt over Everton deal was a worry

Apr 24 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Steven Pienaar, EFC player _320

STEVEN PIENAAR admits the uncertainty over his Everton future had been playing on his mind before his permanent transfer was completed earlier this week.

The South African has committed himself to the club until July 2011 after the small details of his £2.05million move from Borussia Dortmund were finalised.

Pienaar has been on season-long loan from the Bundesliga outfit, scoring twice in 35 appearances so far this campaign

An agreement with Dortmund over a permanent switch was due to expire next week, with Everton manager David Moyes having revealed concerns over an agent’s fee were threatening the deal.

And Pienaar has expressed his relief at the transfer now having been sorted while setting his sights on silverware at Goodison next season.

“It had been on my mind for quite a while and I just wanted to get it over with, as a person you always want to know where your future lies,” said the 26-year-old. “If you are living in an uncertain world you don’t know what is going to happen.

“Now that is behind me and I hope I can just concentrate on football. I have signed a long-term deal so I am looking forward to the next three years at the club.”

Pienaar added: “I have always wanted to play in the Premier League. I have had the opportunity to play for a good club with good supporters so I have to take that opportunity.

“From the first day I came here the guys were really friendly and the gaffer was good to me. It gave me the feeling that I was at home. When you get that feeling you want to stay and that is why I have committed myself to Everton. I think we just have to carry on the way we are going. Next season maybe we have the chance to fight for a cup. It is every player’s dream to win cups and I hope in the next three years we can make it possible.”

Everton could receive a double injury fillip ahead of their crucial Premier League clash with Aston Villa on Sunday.

Leon Osman is poised to return to the midfield having resumed training this week after missing the last two games with a hip problem. And the signs are that Mikel Arteta may also have available for the Goodison encounter, in which a Villa victory would see the Midlanders leapfrog Everton into fifth spot and a UEFA Cup berth.

Arteta has been back home in Spain receiving intensive treatment on the groin and stomach problems that have hampered his game in recent weeks.

The Spanish midfielder is expected to return to Finch Farm tomorrow and Moyes is prepared to give the player every chance to prove his fitness for the weekend.

“Mikel is still in Spain,” said Moyes. “We have been speaking with him regularly, and he will be back on Friday and hopefully will be available.”

Meanwhile, Everton trio Joseph Yobo, Victor Anichebe and Yakubu have all been included in the squad for Nigeria’s World Cup qualifiers in June.