Fellaini to miss Chelsea clash

Midfielder has badly swollen ankle after Merseyside derby

Last updated: 9th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Fellaini to miss Chelsea clash

Fellaini: To miss Chelsea clash

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Everton boss David Moyes has revealed that Marouane Fellaini will be unavailable for the game against Chelsea on Wednesday following his Merseyside derby injury.

The Belgium has a badly swollen ankle after a crunching challenge with Liverpool defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos during Saturday's 1-0 loss at Anfield.

He had to be stretchered off and it is feared the 22-year-old could be out for a few weeks but Everton are still to learn the full extent of the problem.

Moyes said: "He was due to see a specialist in London but the train he was due to travel down on was cancelled, so he's missed his appointment time. He's booked in now for Thursday.

"But he's got a really bad ankle. I was really surprised - it was like an elephant's ankle, it was that bad.

No decision

"The boy has got a bad-looking injury but until the specialist sees it we can't make any kind of decision.

"He has been an integral part of how we have played in recent weeks and he will be a miss."

Kyrgiakos was sent off for his part in the tackle but some observers have claimed Fellaini was equally to blame for the collision and argued that either player could have seen red.

But Moyes said: "I said it after the game, and I haven't changed my views, that it was a two-footed tackle off the ground (by Kyrgiakos).

"He was flying towards a player, he could see that coming all the way, so it was a sending off."

The Fellaini-Kyrgiakos clash was not the only flashpoint in a bruising derby encounter but Moyes insisted there was no deliberate plan from either side to play so physically.

He said: "Nobody sets out for it to be like that but they sometimes turns out that way."

Bounce back

The derby defeat ended Everton's recent upturn in form but Moyes is hoping his side can bounce back against Chelsea at Goodison Park.

He added: "We don't really need to dust ourselves down. We went nine unbeaten before it and we've lost a game to a set-piece.

"We had an awful lot of the ball and there are a lot of positives to take.

"We are not going to get too down about it. We are going to try to kick on and win the next game against Chelsea."

Everton drew 3-3 with the leaders when the sides met at Stamford Bridge in December and Moyes sees no reason why his men cannot upset the title challengers again.

He added: "I think we are playing well and don't have anything to fear, but we respect Chelsea because they have really good players."