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Fresh injury blow for Beattie

07/10/2005

Everton centre-forward James Beattie has picked up a calf strain while attempting to prove his recovery from injury.

Beattie damaged his toe on the first day of the season against Manchester United and has been on the sidelines since.

He was tipped to return for Everton's Premiership clash with Tottenham next weekend but he limped off yesterday after just 23 minutes against Manchester United reserves, reporting tightness in his calf.

Mick Rathbone, head physio for the Toffees, said: "James felt his calf tighten up after 15 minutes and he tried to run it off.

"But he was still feeling some discomfort so he was sensible enough to come off the pitch.

"It looks like a relatively minor calf strain though it is too early to say whether he will be available for Spurs."

Beattie scored in the third minute of Everton reserve's 3-1 defeat before picking up the calf injury, and he said that he had felt "sharp".

"I wanted to play, it started off well for me with the goal and I felt good but then I just felt my calf tighten up," he said after the game.

"It was more of cautionary measure than anything because I don't want to be out for another three or four weeks with a calf strain."

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