Phil Neville ruled out until New Year
Published 23:30 14/09/09 By By David Maddock
Everton's stuttering season has been dealt another shattering blow with news that influential skipper Phil Neville could be out until the New Year.
The Goodison team leader damaged his knee ligaments at Fulham on Sunday, and scans yesterday revealed the damage is severe enough to require surgery and a prolonged period of inactivity.
Blues physio Mick Rathbone revealed that the full extent of the problem won't be known until swelling around the injury has gone down over the next few days, but he did admit that the injury is serious and will keep the captain out for some time.
"It is too early to estimate the length of absence but I fear he is certainly facing a lengthy lay-off," he said.
"An MRI scan on Monday morning has confirmed our fears and it has revealed that Phil has damaged ligaments at the back of his knee.
"He will now rest it for 48 hours to allow the swelling to go down and he will then see a specialist in London before a decision is made on how best to manage the injury."
Neville's luck has finally run out, after a remarkable run without serious injury at Goodison, and before that Old Trafford when he was with Manchester United.
Previously, his worst lay-off was back in 1997 when he was sidelined for three months with glandular fever, and he has never suffered a serious set back with Everton before.
The injury comes at the worst possible time for the club, after a disappointing start to the league campaign has seen them win just one game from their first four, to condemn then to a place in the bottom three.
It comes after the protracted drama of Joleon Lescott's departure from Goodison, and also soon after the bad news that Mikel Arteta could be out until Christmas after he suffered another injury setback.
Manager David Moyes was angry that the challenge by Fulham's Dickson Etuhu which left Neville injured went unpunished, and he will be devastated that the tackle has cost Everton their skipper's services for almost half the season.
"It was bad for the referee to miss that challenge, that doesn't go on in the football we play now, and I thought it warranted a free-kick and a yellow card," Moyes said.
