Vaughan set for surgery

Striker flies to American to see specialist

Last updated: 8th March 2008

Vaughan James

Vaughan: Injury blow

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Everton manager David Moyes has rued the 'terrible luck' of James Vaughan as the striker is likely to miss rest of the season with a new knee injury.

Vaughan has travelled to Colorado to see specialist Richard Steadman, who has performed knee operations on the likes of Michael Owen and Ruud van Nistelrooy in the past.

The 19-year-old, who lost 12 months of his career to a knee cartilage and ligament problem in 2005, suffered a new blow in training and Moyes fears it will be another long-term obstacle.

"The knee just locked a couple of times in training and it is terrible luck for the boy," Moyes told the Daily Mail.

"We don't know yet whether it is the same problem as before, but it is the same knee.

"We decided he should have an operation now, rather than wait until the end of the season, and he has to be a doubt for the rest of this campaign."

The news will be a major setback for Moyes as Everton battle with Liverpool for fourth place in the Premier League and attempt to overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit against Fiorentina in the last 16 of the Uefa Cup.