LAST week, he was turning out in front of a few hundred people at Altrincham. Now James Vaughan is aiming for a dream finish to a nightmare season.

The Everton youngster could yet enjoy a remarkable silver lining after a campaign decimated once again by injury.

Having already suffered a litany of problems earlier in his career, Vaughan began the season still recovering from cartilage damage.

And no sooner had the 20-year-old began knocking on the first-team door, he twisted his right knee during training.

Such is Vaughan’s fortune, it was typical that the operation to repair lateral cartilage damage was delayed for four weeks after world renowned specialist Dr Richard Steadman, who had previously operated on the forward’s other knee, broke his arm while skiing.

Vaughan eventually underwent surgery in London, and was sidelined until earlier this month when he made his comeback for the reserve team in their goalless draw with Sunderland.

The youngster was again in action for the second string last Thursday, playing the full 90 minutes against Manchester United at Altrincham’s quaint Moss Lane stadium.

But it was testament to the faith Everton manager David Moyes has in the highly-rated striker that, only three days later, Vaughan came off the bench in the FA Cup semi-final against United’s first team and was entrusted with a penalty in the decisive shoot-out.

Vaughan netted as Everton claimed a famous victory, and now the striker is further reinvigorated by the carrot of a Cup final appearance next month.

“It was a special game for me at Wembley, the best experience I've had so far,” he says. “Winning and qualifying for my first final is an incredible feeling, especially after what I’ve been through.