Surgery concern over striker

Everton striker James Vaughan has returned from America without undergoing the cartilage operation he requires on his knee.

Everton are now waiting for a report on the health of world renowned surgeon Dr Richard Steadman who was due to perform the operation but could not be cause of his own shoulder injury.

Everton and Vaughan still want Steadman, who has operated on him before, to carry out the cartilage procedure but at the same time they know the longer they delay the longer he will be out of the side.

Everton head physio Mick Rathbone told the official site: "That was incredible.

"You fly to America for an operation and the guy is taken quite ill. What can you do? We are getting a report on it tomorrow.

"James wants Dr Steadman to do it and so do we. We think he is the best at this kind of thing. James is 20 and it is important to us to get the right guy. How long do we wait to get it done? There is a fine line and we are weighing that up now."