Pre Season Aim

Premiership Record Breaker James Vaughan is hopeful, that he can resume training in the pre season. Vaughny is due back at Bellefield on Tuesday, and Blues Physio Basil Rathbone is confident that the work done by eminent surgeon Dr. Richard Steadman has been a success.

Vaughny has been one of the disappointments of the season. After bursting onto the scene and breaking the youngest top flight goal scoring record, high hopes were afforded him. Then with the set back of his troublesome knee this season, all Blues fans were unable to see him progress more regularly at the first team level. Keep smilin' Jimmy, and here's to next season.

Physio and Part Time Super Sleuth Basil says: "James has had a camera put inside his knee and Dr Steadman has had a look at the problem.

What he has found corroborates the assessment of the guys in Liverpool who did the work before and that is that the knee is taking a little while to adapt to life without the cartilage that had to be removed. Nobody is trying to pretend that having three of these procedures on a knee at just 17 years of age is a good thing but Dr Steadman is cautiously optimistic that the knee will be okay.

During the procedure he removed a little scar tissue as well that he thought could have been aggravating the situation and James should be able to do pre-season training. It is good news. It is difficult to nail it down as black and white. They didn't find anything the guys in Liverpool had not spotted but he has had a little tidy up and it has provided some peace of mind. The consultant is regarded as best in the world and he is cautiously optimistic. We will see James back in here for treatment on Tuesday." (15/04/06)

Delayed Trip To USA Goes Ahead

Vaughany finally flew out to see knee specialist Dr Richard Steadman in Colorado, USA today.

Mick 'Basil' Rathbone says: "James is going to be assessed. We sent the videos of the previous operation, and all the scans across a couple of weeks ago. It is difficult to get to see these people. Steadman is perceived to be the best knee specialist in the world so we have had to wait two or three weeks, but they have been good as gold.

We spoke to them on the phone and Matt Connery, Everton physio has taken James over today. He will be assessed tomorrow and then they will decide what to do. They may do an arthroscopy of his knee to see what is inside. It is difficult to say whether major surgery will be required. I hope not. He may decide he needs to look inside the knee. You can scan, but there is nothing like looking inside the knee, so he may decide to do that. I think we may know by the end of the week." (10/04/06)

USA Trip To Fix Knee

Although he returned to training two weeks ago, Jimmy is still having problems with his knee, so Everton will send him to see knee specialist, Dr Richard Steadman in the USA next week.

Moyes said: "Unfortunately James will go to America next week to see a specialist regarding his knee and he is not going to be available We don't expect him to play again this season. He has been back training regularly but his knee has got swelling and we are not happy with it so we are going to get a second opinion. He had an operation before Christmas and had his cartilage removed but his knee is not settling so we are going to send him to see Steadman." (17/03/06)

Return to fitness

The Blues have been boosted by the news that young Jimmy returned to light training yesterday along with Andy pandy after lengthy injury lay-offs. So much has been speculated about his injuries for the blues but now it looks like the boy is on his way back to full fitness and hopefully donning the blue shirt in the not so distant future, Maybe even against the shite at Analfeild, Who knows!

Moyesy says: "They both joined in and, hopefully, could be ready for a game in a couple of weeks." (01/03/06)

Another Operation

Jimmy has suffered another setback in his bid to get back to full fitness. He's had another op and it will keep him out for another 2 months.

Moyesy says: "James has had another operation and is still two months away. He is a big miss as he would have given us an extra striker and had chances to play, and has missed so much now because of two knee operations. It's not a major operation but he is only a young boy and we'd sooner not be operating on him (knee cartilage). I hope we se him again this season. (18/01/06)

Setback

Jimmy is still some way off returning to the squad. Everton want to make sure Jimmy is 100% fit when he comes back.

Moyesy says: "He is still struggling. James has had some fluid drained from his knee and an injection to try and settle it down because it hasn't happened since his operation. I don't think he is going to be back any time soon. He's only a young boy. He's only 17, so to say that we are missing 17-year-olds shouldn't be the case. But it's the boy's development that we are worried about. It's an important year for him and he's missed a lot of it with a knee injury. We know that he has got a lot of attributes. His commitment and attitude is first class. We know that we have got someone that when we play him, he will put defenders under pressure. He is a young boy and will only get better with time."

Physio Mick Rathbone says: "It has not gone fantastically well with James' knee. Given his age, we are being extra-cautious with him. He is a way off, that is for sure. Sometimes when you have got a few injuries and games coming up it is very easy to be sucked into a situation where you take unnecessary risks. But you always have to be level-headed when it comes to making decisions." (21/12/05)

Training Again

Great news for Moyesy in the return to training of Premiership Record Breaker, James Vaughan. Top Dog Physio Basil Rathbone, has given Vaughan the green light to resume training, and fully expects him to appear for the rezzies next week.

Basil says: "James had part of his cartilage removed six weeks ago. He has come along on schedule, he has worked hard and he is back in full training now. He is only just 17 and obviously it is not ideal to have part of your cartilage removed at such a young age but he is fine, the prognosis is good and he is back in training.

At that age the players heal quicker, but by the same degree James is so eager to play and he is such a physically strong, determined and aggressive player that I have had to put the reins on him and slow him down a bit. He got the final go-ahead from the consultant last Saturday which was bang on six weeks after the op and he needs a week's training but I expect he will be involved with the reserves next week." (02/11/05)

Six Weeks

Encouraging news for Moyesy this morning, in the shape of Premiership Goal Scoring Record Breaker James Vaughan. James has come through an operation on his knee, and Head Physio Basil Rathbone, expects the youngster to be fully operational in about six weeks. I am sure he will walk straight into the first team.

Basil says: "He twisted awkwardly turning in training and when he came back to the club we diagnosed a torn cartilage. The operation on the injury went well and we anticipate him to be out for about six weeks." (26/09/05)

Proud Parents

Vaughany's Parents, Dorrington and Shirley have said their son would have been a success in any sport he would have taken up. As a schoolboy he was the fastest sprinter in his age group in the West Midlands and the third quickest in the UK. He may also have followed his father into Rugby Union. He was a professional rugby player at Preston Grasshoppers. James was also a talented rugby player, as a wing for Lichfield and later representing Staffordshire at under-14s level.

But it is at football that the Premiership's youngest ever goalscorer at the age of 16 years and 271 days has decided to make play proffessionally. He has made a name for himself by scoring 136 goals in one season for Hill West Primary in Sutton, beating the school record previously held by Ian Rush and Owen. James went on to score 103 goals in 29 games for Everton's youth team in 1998/99 and was named as player of the year by the Toffeemen at both under-15 and under-16 level.

Dad, Dorrington Vaughan says: "James has been involved with Everton since he was six. They have always shown him a lot of loyalty and he would always do the same to them. I think David Moyes and Everton have handled James fantastically well. The advantage is that Everton have been in this situation before with a certain Mr Rooney and they have learned from when he was at the club. James' agent Gino Culbertson has also done a great job of looking after him, so he has got a great team behind him, keeping his feet firmly on the floor. On saying that, he is a grounded young man. James knows he will have to work hard to establish himself in the Everton first team but it's something he's determined to do. His ultimate ambition is to play for England at senior level - I guess that's every schoolboys' dream."

"Even if he was playing marbles he would be competitive, that's why he has done so well. We're really proud of what James has achieved. He has worked hard for it and so deserves everything he has achieved. I guess the only thing that has come as a shock is how quickly James has progressed. He was always a really good footballer and when he was younger, we watched every game and could gauge how he was getting on. But when James moved up to Liverpool, we could only get to certain games and so we did not really see his progress as much for two-and-a-half years." (12/09/05)

Out For Up To 8 Weeks

Everton were dealt another injury blow when it was revealed that Jimmy needs a cartilage operation, which will keep him out for 6-8 weeks. Everton are already without James Beattie and with no new forward signed before last months transfer deadline, only have Marcus Bent and big Dunc to choose from.

Moyesy says: “James twisted his knee during duty with the England under-19 team. After further investigations and a scan he will require a cartilage operation and is likely to be missing for between 6-8 weeks.” (09/09/05)

Vaughny's Raring To Go

It should not be long till we are seeing Record Breaker James Vaughan as a regular fixture in the Everton first team line up. With Moyesy's options limited up front, Vaughny seems the ideal candidate to get in to the team and make a name for himself.

The youngster currently holds the Premiership record for the youngest ever goal scorer, when he found the net against Crystal Palace last season. He has been rewarded with his first professional contract in a three year deal. Fingers crossed we have unearthed another gem.

Moyesy says: "James may be given a few games but we will try and do the right thing for him. He came on against Fulham last week and he showed the qualities that he has got. He is not an awful long way away but needs a bit more time.

We are probably pushing him a long a bit quickly but every time he come on he livens things up. He will play for the reserves and we will use him in the first team." (04/09/05)

A Full Time Toffee

Having signed a 3 year contract until 2008, James spoke about taking his chance in a very mature way for a lad of 17.

James says: “I am obviously delighted that everything has been done. Playing football professionally is what you aim for when you are growing up and now I have been given a chance to do it. But it is only a chance and I know I have a lot to learn. I need to work hard in training and from there I have to see what happens but there is still a huge mountain to climb.

I want to achieve as much as possible in my career and therefore the onus is on me. I have to listen to the advice of the manager, coaches and the players and try and improve my game. I enjoy playing for the reserves. It has been a huge learning curve playing against senior players but Andy Holden has always been there to offer me advice. I want people to notice me in what I do, I want the manager to notice me and for that to happen I have to perform well in training and in the games.  Hopefully I can get a chance but then I have to take it.” (23/08/05)

Contract Talks

Now that Everton's and the Premiership's youngest ever League goalscorer is 17 he can now negotiate a professional contract. His agent, Gino will do the biz.

Everton spokesman (Who he?)says: "We are in talks about a new deal for James. He has done extremely well and this will be a reward for his improvement."

Jimmy's agent, Gino Culbertson says: "James turned 17 a short while ago so he's now eligible to sign his first professional contract. We're looking for something quite substantial as well, hopefully a three-year deal. The talks have already begun and will continue next week. It's still fair to say we're still in the early stages but hopefully there will be pens put to paper fairly soon. James is a quality player who is at a quality club and he has great faith in Everton. He knows he's got a long way still to go in his career and a lot of hard work in front of him, but he wants to stay put at Everton."

Full Squad 2005/06     James Vaughan Last Season