Fitness fears for Moyes

Everton boss David Moyes will give fitness tests to a number of first-team players before their UEFA Cup match against Metalist Kharkiv tomorrow.

Andrew Johnson, Mikel Arteta, goalkeeper Tim Howard, Thomas Gravesen and Steven Pienaar will all be monitored to see if they are fit to take part at Goodison Park.

Stefan Wessels, who stood in for Howard against Manchester United after the American’s finger injury, is likely to start again against the Ukrainian side.

Everton’s injury-plagued midfielder Tim Cahill is turning to specially-designed boots to rid him of his metatarsal injuries.

“I have met with the physios and they are talking about the asset I can be to the club in the years to come, not just the next five minutes,” he told evertonTV.

“I don’t want to put my body at risk when it is such an innocuous thing that happened – to jump and land.”

The Australian is exploring every avenue in order to minimise the possibility of any subsequent recurrence of the problem.

“But I really need to think about this,” continued Cahill.

“People think ’what has he done to try and correct things?’

“Well I have had new boots made, I have tried different orthotics (foot supports).

“I have kept my weight down and tried to build more muscle and I have been doing different things with the physios and nutritionists as well to make myself stronger for when I get back.”