Mikel Arteta to miss the rest of Everton's season

May 3 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Mikel Arteta (158)

MIKEL ARTETA has been ruled out of Everton’s final push for Europe.

The Spaniard has admitted defeat in his attempts to recover from the groin and abdominal problems that have hampered his efforts since late last year.

Everton have been forced to nurse Arteta through recent months, with the midfielder regularly visiting a specialist his homeland for treatment on the injury.

Arteta returned from Spain last Saturday and was deemed fit enough to make the bench for the home game against Aston Villa the following day.

But the 26-year-old was a subdued performer during a 24-minute substitute appearance in the second half and now Moyes has quashed any hope of Arteta playing any part in the final two games of the campaign.

“Mikel is out for the rest of the season,” said the Goodison manager. “We have not had Mikel much for the last month or two. He has been doing everything he can to be fit but is not quite right.

“He has not felt right in training for a while. It has been dragging on since November-December time.

“He came on in the game on Sunday and he came back to training and hasn’t felt good for a couple of days. Mikel feels it after games more so. He feels sore with it and doesn’t feel comfortable.

“He’s played some games, he’s missed some training and I think it has affected his form,” he added.

“It does not require surgery. He has had rest but has been getting treatment as well, so we will just have to leave his recovery to the medical team.”