“I’m well prepared both mentally and physically. I have the legs and hunger of a 20-year-old.

“My luck has been terrible in the past. I would be fine for six months, then the day the France squad would be announced I’d get injured.

“It has been hard to take. I would not wish a similar fate on anyone, and I have struggled to overcome these setbacks.”

Joseph Yobo yesterday completed his season-long loan move to Fenerbahce, a deal which includes an option for the Turkish side to make the transfer permanent.

Everton have confirmed their Carling Cup third round tie at npower League One side Brentford will take place on Tuesday, September 21 with a 7.45pm kick-off.

Meanwhile, Everton have submitted a 21-man Premier League squad in accordance with new rules which have come into force this season.

The rules state the squad must contain at least eight ‘homegrown’ players, with that term meaning they have spent three years at an English or Welsh club between the ages of 16 and 21.

Clubs are also allowed to call up an unlimited number of under-21 players of any nationality.

EVERTON’S SQUAD. HOMEGROWN: Tony Hibbert, Phil Neville, Tim Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Jermaine Beckford, James Vaughan, Victor Anichebe, Leon Osman, Leighton Baines. OTHERS: Tim Howard, Mikel Arteta, Jan Mucha, Steven Pienaar, Iain Turner, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Seamus Coleman, Louis Saha, Sylvain Distin, John Heitinga, Yakubu, Marouane Fellaini. ELIGIBLE U21s: Jack Rodwell, Jose Baxter, Shane Duffy, James Wallace, Shkodran Mustafi, Magaye Gueye, Joao Silva.