Striker injury boost

Everton striker Yakubu has targeted a return to the starting line up by the beginning of the season.

The Yak has been out of action since suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon at Tottenham Hotspur last November but he is closing in on a return to the side and hopes to be ready for the kick-off in August.

"I'm getting better and training every day with the physio who is so wonderful to me," he told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"For almost eight months I haven't been playing football but at the moment it's great. I don't know but I think at the beginning of the season I'll be ready."