Wright could miss start of season

Richard Wright will almost certainly miss the start of the new season after seriously damaging his shoulder when he fell out of a loft.

The Everton goalkeeper visited a specialist in his hometown of Ipswich today with Everton physio Mick Rathbone, who travelled down from Merseyside to investigate the injury.

Wright had ended up in casualty on Friday night after the incident while at his house in the Suffolk town.

It has now been diagnosed that the unlucky ’keeper has suffered a separation of the right shoulder joint.

The injury is heavily strapped and will remain so for much of the summer.

Wright joined Everton from Arsenal last summer and forced his way back into the England squad.

He has only just recovered from a knee operation he had the day after the final game of last season against Manchester United.

The 26 year-old was described as having sustained a minor shoulder injury after a “domestic “ accident. But the full extent of the problem, and the bizarre reason, has only just emerged.

Rathbone said: “Richard has seen a shoulder specialist in Ipswich today and he was informed that although the injury doesn’t need surgery he could well be out for between six to eight weeks.

“Unfortunately goalkeepers have to dive around and that means he will certainly miss most if not all of pre-season training.”

It means that Everton will start the season with either Paul Gerrard or Steve Simonsen in goal, with youngster Iain Turner on the bench.

And that could well scupper any chance Gerrard had of a summer move to Ipswich.

After spending a spell on loan there last season, where he was re-united with his former Oldham and Everton boss Joe Royle, Gerrard was in line for possible a move to Portman Road.

Royle had hoped to sign Ian Bennett from Birmingham but he has agreed a new deal at St Andrews.