Strikers surgery confirmed

Everton striker James Vaughan will undergo a second cartilage operation today - while Yakubu had Achilles surgery yesterday.

Vaughan will be operated on by world-renowned knee specialist Dr Richard Steadman in Colorado to repair a cartilage problem and will be out of the side until February at the earliest.

Nigeria international Yakubu had surgery on his Achilles tendon in his right ankle on Tuesday and will be out for the rest of the season, and possibly longer, while fellow striker Louis Saha continues to struggle with a hamstring problem.

Young striker Victor Anichebe looks likely to be the only fit forward available to Everton when they take on Aston Villa on Sunday, with manager David Moyes set to make a move to bring in either Henrik Larsson or David Nugent in January.