Playing Through The Pain Barrier

Jimmy has impressed the boss with his tough attitude.

Moyesy says: "We are really pleased with James. He had been running with a limp in training last week and we were a bit concerned. But he is that tough a boy, you never know when he is injured or not because he always tells you that he is fine. I thought his contribution against United was excellent." (01/05/07)

Pain In The Arse

Vaughany is fit and back in the first team squad to face United and to be a pain in the arse to their defenders. So says Alan Stubbs.

Stubbsey says: “He never gives you time on the ball and he is always a threat. He is a pain in the arse. Vaughany still has a lot to learn with his runs and holding the ball up, but he is a good kid. He listens and he wants to learn and I take my hat off to him for that. Some young kids think they have made it before they have even kicked a ball today. As soon as some kids play their first game, they think they are six inches bigger. He has always kept his feet on the floor. He respects the older players and listens to them. There were doubts hanging over his career but all credit to him for the way he has come back. Since he has come into the team he has been a breath of fresh air.” (27/04/07)

Vaughany Targets West Ham Return

Baz Rathbone is happy with the way the injury is healing. Although they have got to make sure no infection gets into the wound. He said that the cut may have been from a vein and not an artery as first thought. Typical of James, he has targeted the West Ham game next week to return, although Baz thinks that's too optimistic.

Jimmy says: "Baz has told me three to four weeks but I want to be back before that. It is just the way I am and I just hope I can be back soon. The fans have always been good and I appreciate their support. I was enjoying playing so hopefully I can get back in the next couple of weeks and get back into the team again.

I can just remember going for a ball in the air. I went to volley it and didn't think there was anyone around me but the next thing I knew I was rolling around on the floor in pain. You get a knock on your foot all the time I thought it was like that and that I would be alright in a couple of minutes. But then I saw all the blood and realised it was a bit different. I didn't see it until Baz came on because I was on the floor facing the other way. I told him 'give me a minute and I will be alright' but then he said 'have a look' and I realised there was blood everywhere. I was in shock at first because you don't expect to see blood like that." (13/04/07)
Full interview on evertonTV

Back For Last Three Games

Jimmy's season is not over. Baz Rathbone says he could be back in three weeks.

Baz says: "We are cautiously optimistic he will be back playing within the next three to four weeks. The cut didn't look too bad but there was a lot of blood so he went to accident and emergency. He wasn't happy about coming off the park. It would have been a dereliction of duty on my behalf to let him carry on with the amount of blood round the wound. You can't be messing around with stuff like that." (10/04/07)

It Looks Good

Things are going really well for James since his injury problems. Both he and the boss are wasting no time to get in as much work as they can for the benefit of the team. His performance against Fulham was an indication of what we have for the future of our club. It looks good.

James says: "I was terrified I would not play again. But I had fantastic support from my family, the coaches and people here at Everton and my friends. Because of them, I have got back playing again. There's not a problem at all now and I am really enjoying the challenge of playing against Premier League defenders.

They are all tough and difficult, but I just love being in the side and playing against that sort of quality. I hope it will just keep going.It was a great performance by the lads, and it was sweeter for me to get one of the goals.

"I've done okay against Arsenal and Villa in the previous two games but I didn't get a goal. You can play as well as anyone but, for strikers, it is not enough because we are judged on goals. So I needed that one. Our target is to get into Europe, and we all believe we can do just that."

Moyesy says: "He has needed a little bit more composure at times with his finishing but that is the sort of thing he has missed in the past 14 months with a lack of training. We are having to squeeze as much of that into him as we can. I am not going to change him because that is his game. He tackles centre halves they don't tackle him. If we changed that it would be hard for him. He has got a lot of technical work to do to improve, but he has the youthfulness, the courage and the desire to play and that makes him someone you want in your side."(08/04/07)

Boys Own Stuff

James Vaughan has had a boys own sort of week, with starring in the Blues win against the Arse, and then appearing for England U19's in last night 1-0 win against Turkey. At just 18 years of age, a lot is already expected of the Everton front man, and if he continues in the same vein as he has started his Everton career, it looks like we have unearthed another gem.

Jimmy says: "It was a good performance from the whole team and I just wanted it to carry on and see if we could get a victory, which we did in the end. It was a good result. I don't get nervous, I was just excited. I haven't played (from the start) before and it was a dream of mine to start for Everton and I just want to keep it going now.

Arsenal were one of my favourite teams growing up so it was even more special to play against them. It was just good to get the victory in the end. I was celebrating just as much as the boys on the field, don't worry about that! It was a brilliant feeling to know that we had beaten them. It goes along with my first appearance, those two days - I will never forget them, so it is special." (22/03/07)

Moyesy Loves A Trier

Jimmy got the nod for the Arsenal game, because he's been flying in training.

Moyesy says: "James Vaughan was selected to start because he looked the sharpest in training. He's missed 14 months and I've just seen signs in training that he's beginning to get back to the level he was at when he came on the scene.

To miss a year of development at that age is a massive thing for a young boy. He missed the training, the technique work and the fitness work. We actually debated whether we were going to send him out on loan. We were going to do it but because of the injury to James McFadden we didn't. Did he confirm our faith in selecting him? Not half! He showed everything which we know he's got. Everybody loves a trier." (21/03/07)

England Game

Vaughany hopes to start a game foe a change, when he plays for England Under 19's against Turkey in an international friendly. The match will be played on Wednesday, 21st March 2007. at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium. A chance to see Everton's youngest ever goal scorer. (26/02/07)

Brace For England

James Vaughan has given Moyesy something to think about when he netted both goals as England U19's beat Poland 4-1. Vaughany netted one of his two from the spot in front of a record 10,000 spectators at Dean Court, home of Bournemouth. (07/02/07)

I Thank You All

James Vaughan has handed out a few thank you's after his strike sealed victory for the Blues against West Ham on Sunday. The youngster was quick to applaud his manager, Alan Irvine and most of all Andy Holden the reserve boss, after he spent 12 months out of action with a serious knee injury. Vaughany looks upon his goal as importantly as his first for the club, when he broke Everton's and the Premiership youngest goal scorer record.

James says: "To score in front of the Goodison crowd is so special, I can't explain it. It has to be right up there with my first goal a couple of seasons ago because there was a time a few months ago when I didn't think I would ever play again. So to come on and score is brilliant.

To know you have the manager's support means everything. You can't go wrong with people like that, Andy Holden and Alan Irvine there to support you. I Just hope it is onwards and upwards now. I have waited a long time for that and for it to come in that way, late in the game when we needed to win, made it extra special." (05/12/06)

Back With A Goal

James Vaughan came on as a late sub against West Ham, yesterday and scored a last minute winner, which Moyesy was pleased about, but not too sure about the celebration.

Moyesy says: "To miss 14 months with a knee injury at an important time in his development is hard, but we are bringing him back slowly. He is young and inexperienced, but we can only use him at the right time. James Vaughan is someone we have a lot of hope for and to get a goal when we are struggling to get some is great. When he scored it was one of those new dance routine's he'd most probably practiced last night. Not the type of dancing I'm used to." (04/12/06)

No Loan Ranger

Moyesy is going to resist farming Vaughany out, as a host of lower League Clubs have enquired in taking the Everton youngster on a loan spell. With Moyesy down to the bare bones, and Jimmy on his way back after his knee injury, Moyesy thinks Goodison is were he needs to be for the moment.

Moyesy says: "At the moment I wouldn't be putting James out on loan. I was going to put him on against Bolton and his form has looked much better in the last couple of weeks for the reserves and he got a goal when he was away on International duty. I've got him about the place and I hope he's going to keep progressing. Maybe once we get people back, it might be different. But at the moment, I can't do it with the numbers we have." (21/11/06)

Busy Week For James

Its a busy week for James Vaughan. After scoring a 90th minute winner for England u19's last night in Crewe against the Swiss, Vaughany finds himself in the reserve staring eleven to face the Pie Eaters over in Wigan tonight. It may be Gresty Road, and Wigan now Jimmy, but soon it will be Goodison Park on a more regular footing. Keep up the good work. (15/11/06)

Wrist Problem

Vaughany has had a minor set back, when he fell at home (al La Wrighty) and had to have a bone pinned in his broken wrist. Despite this he's in the squad to face the arse

Alan Irvine says: "He had a bit of a setback with the operation on his wrist so he would have been well ahead of where he is now if he hadn't had that. He fell, and apparently he was trying to protect his mobile phone. Why that was more important than his career I don't quite know - we could easily have got him a new one! But he fell and he ended up pulling a piece of bone off that had to be screwed back in.

He's on the way back but he's only had three full games in the reserves. When you've been out for that length of time you come back and you play on adrenalin for two games. So last week he will have been disappointed because all the adrenalin will have gone out of him and now it's all hard work again. So he is definitely not ready to play for the first team at this moment. We're still monitoring him in terms of his knee, which seems to be okay but he's still wearing this strapping on his wrist which isn't great to be playing with, especially when you're as physical as Vaughany." (27/10/06)

Ready For First Team

Two goals in 3 games has alerted clubs wanting a striker on loan. Vaughany is going nowhere on loan. Moyesy wants him to continue his good form at Everton. He reckons Everton's youngest ever goal scorer will be knocking on the first team door sooner rather than later.

Moyesy says: "We have had so many clubs ringing us, not just a few but I think more than 20 now. But I am not going to let James go on loan. It would be wrong for us to put him out on loan after such a bad injury until we have seen that it does not flare up again.

Any thoughts of loans are non-starters, we will decide if there is a right time. But we want his talents for us. He should be ready for the first team in December or January, when he will be quick and sharp with us having a lot of games and then we will need him. James and Victor Anichebe are our future and they will put pressure on the experienced strikers here." (19/10/06)

Mini Derby

Jimmy was full of himself after scoring the winner in the mini derby on Tuesday. He had praise for Big Vic, his partner in crime up front and also everyone at Everton, who helped him get fit again.

Vaughany says: "It's unbelievable. I just can't believe after all I've been through this year that I can return and score a goal for the team and win it for us. Well the team won it for us, but I scored the winning goal. It's what I've been dreaming and praying about for the last twelve months. I owe it all the Physio's and backroom staff because they've helped me through it. Without them I wouldn't be standing here today. The goal, I just remember a long ball from Wrighty over the top and I just chased it down and luckily the goalie didn't come out and I just put it away. It's great to play with Victor again. I haven't played with him for a few years. To get alongside him is brilliant. He's so strong and so powerful. Any defender is going to struggle against him. I'm pleased the way he's progressing and hopefully I can join him. I just hope it can continue and I can kick on from here." This interview can be seen on evertontv

Moyesy says: "James has got a long way to go as he has been out for a year but he will enjoy the goal and quite right because he deserved it. It will do his confidence the world of good. He has only been back in training a couple of weeks and things have been stop-start for him because he also had an operation on his hand, so now we need to get as much work into him as we possibly can.

He would have been playing by now and would have been in the first team squad. We know he has a talent and the hard thing for him has been missing a crucial year of his development. He has missed playing against experienced pros and missed a year training with the first team but we will do our best to get that back once we can get him back towards full fitness." (11/10/06)

Tremendous Boost

With just one reserve match behind him, Vaughany is back in the England Under 19's squad for a tournament in Austria next month. (13/09/06)

Nice To See You, To See You Nice

Moyesy is urging caution with the return to rezzy action with Everton's record breaking goal scorer James Vaughan. Vaughany netted for the second string in midweek, and as happy as Moyesy is with the youngster return to action, he will not be rushed back.

Moyesy says: " We were delighted that James played an hour of the game but the most important thing is that there has been no reaction since. Now that is the case, we can start looking forward with him and nursing him back a bit more. He has had a serious injury and we know there is a chance that it could flare up again at any time in the future, so we will look after him.

Maybe we have over-exaggerated the recovery time a bit but we have only done that to make sure that he is going to be alright. We won't be doing anything drastic with him now. We just want him training properly. He has not been training all the time. He has trained one day and then rested another but now that he has played this game, we will look to have him training everyday." (03/09/06)

Training

It's news that we all wanted to hear. James will start training this week.

Moyesy says: "He would have been playing by now and would have been in the first team squad. He has missed playing against experienced professionals and missed a year training with the first team but we will do our best to get that back once we can get him back towards full fitness. But it will be a slow return for him rather us rushing him back. We will take it easy with him but it will be good to see him again."(07/08/06)

Waiting Game

Vaughany is just waiting now to kick a ball. He is making very good progress with his fitness. It's just a matter of waiting for the right time to start playing again.

Basil says: "The very latest on James is that he is making good progress. I hesitate to get too excited because twice in the past he has been making good progress and it was only when he went into the final stage of playing, that the problem recurred. It is going as well as can be expected. He is doing some good quality work, he is happy everybody else is happy and there is no swelling, the knee is fine. It looks functionally fine and he is getting his strength back.

He is looking okay but as I say, we are reticent to get too excited because he has had a couple of false dawns in the past. We like players who want to play so we don't want to knock that out of him. He knows the importance of it, he knows he has had a serious injury and he is not out of the woods yet. He is daft up to a point but not when it comes to the good of his health and his career." (12/07/06)

Cautiously Optimistic

Everton physio, Baz Rathbone is taking the cautious route back to fitness with Vaughany. The Everton striker became the youngest goalscorer in Premiership history when he came on as a sub and scored against Crystal Palace aged 16 years 271 days. Since then he has had a serious knee injury that has kept him out for over a year. Vaughany is hopeful to continue his rehab after a successful visit to world renowned knee specialist Dr Richard Steadman in America last May.

Baz says: "James is doing well. He is making good progress. A couple of times in the past he was making good progress and broke down again so we are not getting too carried away. But in terms of how he is at this moment in time, subsequent to the surgery in Colorado, he is doing well and we will push him on in July and keep our fingers crossed." (27/06/06)

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