By James Dall Last updated: 3rd July 2009
Yakubu: Light at end of tunnel
Everton striker Yakubu Aiygebeni has spoken of his relief as he nears the end of a 'frustrating' period of his career.
The Nigeria international has been sidelined with a serious Achilles injury since last November.
However, Yakubu is confident of being fit for the new season after confirming his summer training is progressing well.
"It is so difficult to not kick a ball for almost seven months. It has been frustrating," he told Sky Sports News.
"You just need to be patient and wait for the time to come. I am just so pleased to be back, to start training again and kicking a ball again.
"The training has been good, there has been no reaction or pain. Everything is good, but I have to take it one step at a time.
"Hopefully I will be back to join the team in pre-season."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 20th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Tottenham |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Birmingham |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Burnley |
| 17:30 | Arsenal vs West Ham |
| Sunday 21st March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Man Utd vs Liverpool |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Man City |
| 16:00 | Blackburn vs Chelsea |
| Tuesday 23rd March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | West Ham vs Wolverhampton |
| Wednesday 24th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Sunderland |
| 19:45 | Man City vs Everton |
| 19:45 | Portsmouth vs Chelsea |
| 20:00 | Blackburn vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 27th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Arsenal |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Portsmouth |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs Everton |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 20th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Tuesday 16th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 1 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| Monday 15th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 4 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Sunday 14th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 3 - 0 Fulham | |
| Sunderland 1 - 1 Man City | |
| Saturday 13th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Tottenham 3 - 1 Blackburn | |
| Bolton 4 - 0 Wigan | |
| Birmingham 2 - 2 Everton | |
| Stoke 0 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Chelsea 4 - 1 West Ham | |
| Burnley 1 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Hull 1 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Wednesday 10th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Burnley 1 - 1 Stoke | |
| Tuesday 9th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 4 - 0 Bolton | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 2 Birmingham | |
| Monday 8th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 1 - 0 Liverpool | |
| Sunday 7th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Everton 5 - 1 Hull | |
| Saturday 6th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 3 - 1 Burnley | |
| West Ham 1 - 2 Bolton | |
| Wolverhampton 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United | 30 | 66 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 29 | 64 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 30 | 64 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 29 | 52 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 30 | 51 |
| 6 | Manchester City | 28 | 50 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 28 | 49 |
| 8 | Birmingham City | 29 | 44 |
| 9 | Everton | 29 | 42 |
| 10 | Fulham | 29 | 38 |
| 11 | Stoke City | 29 | 36 |
| 12 | Blackburn Rovers | 29 | 34 |
| 13 | Bolton Wanderers | 30 | 32 |
| 14 | Sunderland | 29 | 31 |
| 15 | Wigan Athletic | 30 | 28 |
| 16 | West Ham United | 29 | 27 |
| 17 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 29 | 27 |
| 18 | Burnley | 30 | 24 |
| 19 | Hull City | 29 | 24 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 29 | 10 |
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Peter Fraser meets Dirk Kuyt to talk about Liverpool, facing Manchester Utd and going to the World Cup.
Strikers Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres must try to outclass each other this Sunday, says Andy Gray.
John Carew's late goal earned Aston Villa a 2-2 draw with Wolves in a thrilling Midlands derby at Villa Park.
Nicolas Anelka has given Chelsea the clearest indication that he is ready to pledge his future to the club.
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has confirmed the club are to offer James Milner a new deal in the summer.
Tottenham star Jermain Defoe has dismissed fears he could be out of action for a lengthy period.
Sir Alex Ferguson claims he knew it would be difficult for Liverpool to mount another title challenge.