Back In The Hunt

Nuno is now ready to join the squad again after coming through a tough few days training.

Baz says: "Nuno has trained in the last three days and he is doing well." (02/04/07)

Fit For Arsenal

Nuno should be ready to play against the arse next week. He has been spotted with his family in WH Smith buying his son 'the Evertonian' and 'Fishing Bait' for himself. So after 5 weeks off he was with the rest of the squad in New York.

Baz says: "The highlight was running through Central Park in the snow. Nuno had a really bad calf strain about four weeks ago. He was jogging with me in Central Park and he is now making good progress. We have said all along it is a six week injury. There's no game this weekend so by the time the next game comes he should be running comfortably and he won't be far away." (10/03/07)

One More Year

Nuno has extended his stay at the Blues till the Summer of 2008. The 32yr old Portuguese left back has stated that he loves Everton, and certainly the fans love him. Its been a good week for Moyesy up to now with Tim Howard signing full time, and now Nuno. Then to cap it all, they can train in Spain for the next few days, oh the life of a professional footballer.

Moyesy says: "We have taken up Nuno Valente's option for a further year." (16/02/07)

......As a Fiddle

Great news for the Blues with Nuno Valente being passed fir for this weekends derby at Analfield. Nuno who has had a stop start season has been missing since the Cup debacle against Blackburn at the turn of the year. Physio Basil Rathbone, has given the left back the thumbs up, so Moyesy will have at least a recognisable defence to pick from.

Basil says: "Nuno is training now. He passed a fitness test at the end of last week so he's okay." (30/01/07)

Not that Bad

Nuno's injury may not be as bad as first thought.

Moyesy says: "It's not too serious. Nuno has wrenched his knee a bit and I'd expect it to keep him out for a few weeks. It's not desperately serious but it's swollen badly at the minute and there is a bit of fluid around the joint. He's never really got up and running, though. It seems like Nuno has been having two games in and two games out.

It looked like when he played against Newcastle over Christmas that he had finally got there. He played really well that day but then this latest injury hit him. It seems like it's been that way all season for us at left-back." (11/01/07)

Curse of The Left Back Strikes Again

Everton's left back curse struck again at the weekend as Nuno limped out of the Blackburn debacle with a knee injury. It seems to be Everton's most jinxed position, after Nace and Sandro battled through long term injuries. Although The news on Nuno's knee is positive it will be a month before we see the Portuguese International in action again.

Basil says: "The scan corroborates our clinical diagnosis and although he sprained the knee quite badly, all the major structures of the knee seem okay." (09/01/07)

I'm Here Forever

Nuno loves Everton and he is hoping to end his career here if the manager will let him. The 32yr old Portuguese defender who oozes class (Charlton last week the exception), would sign on the dotted line tomorrow if any extension to his current deal was on offer.

He also thinks Everton have a great chance of securing a UEFA Cup spot this season, and with the top to the middle of the table fairly tight, he believes Everton can break away and get back to the heady heights we achieved at the start of the season.

Nuno says: "I want to stay here and if they want me to stay, I will. I like it here. I like the manager, the fans and there is a great atmosphere in the city. I am settled and so are my family. The fans are always kind to me and I want to do my best for them and for my team as well. If they invited me to sign another contract, I would not need to think twice. I would just sign it straight away.

There are a lot of teams between tenth and fourth in the table and there is a lot of competition as there is not a lot of points between us all. But we will be fighting very hard until the end of the season to make sure that we get into Europe. We want to stay at the same level we showed right at the start of the season and play that kind of football. We started very well and I think we have shown that we are a good team. If we keep going like that, then the UEFA Cup is a big possibility. If we could do that, it would be fantastic, as the manager, the fans and everyone around the club deserve it. As players, it is up to us make sure that we can make it happen." (01/12/06)

Welcome Back

Moyesy for one is delighted that Nuno is back in the fold as he gives the team an extra dimension with his quality passing. The defender who has been missing through injury is back in the Everton set up and fully fit, so lets hope he has been the missing link, in our run of bad form of late. Nuno's back, we beat Bolton, easy isn't it.

Moyesy says: "I thought Nuno's performance last weekend was excellent. He has had a bit of a slow start to the season because of the World Cup. He missed all of pre-season to rest and then he got an injury so he hasn't really got going yet but hopefully his performance last weekend is the first of many. He is very good on the ball, a good passer and you can see he has played at a good level which is why he has one or two medals in his bag.

Getting good crosses into the box is not the only way to create goals, but it is one area we want to work on. You have to have people who will attack the ball. We got a few crosses in last weekend but maybe not enough." (24/11/06)

Nuno's Back Training

Nuno Valente can return to training with the first team after his groin injury according to Basil Rathbone. Fulham this weekend will come to early for the Portuguese defender who along with Pisto and Nace has been struggling this term. Curse of the Were Rabbit, more like Curse of the left back.

Super Sleuth and Part Time Physio Basil Rathbone says: "Nuno has joined in training after his groin strain. He has done all the running, sprinting and twisting without any symptoms so he is okay to get back into training." (02/11/06)

Dead Leg

Nuno looks likely to miss Everton's next game at Blackburn on Wednesday night. He was went off with a dead leg against Watford.

Moyesy says: "Nuno has got a bad dead leg he took in the first half and his thigh is badly swollen up. We will need to see how he is before midweek." (20/08/06)

Well Played Son

Moyesy reckons that Evertonians will see the true Nuno Valente this season. As the world watched on in Germany, Nuno without doubt was one of the success stories for his country, and all Blues fans will no doubt give him a standing ovation on his return.

Nuno has been given extra time off by Moyesy and he will be seen back at Bellefield in a few weeks. In fact all the Portugal players have been given time off by their clubs so they can throw rotten fruit and veg round the clock at Ronaldo for the next fortnight.

Moyesy says: "We were all really pleased with how Nuno played and I think he showed everyone exactly what we think he is and that is a very good player. He's a very good passer of the ball and played nearly every minute for Portugal. Overall, he proved himself to be a very well-rounded professional.

He was one of the boys who made an impression among his fellow professionals. He never ducked anything, he never hid at anytime and put himself forward. He played with a few injuries last season and that is the sign of someone who will give himself up for the team. But I just hope that we have no effects from the length of period that he has had to play this summer. That would be my only concern with him." (12/07/06)

New Season

The World Cup is nearly over for Nuno with just one more game to play, but he has already got his thoughts on next season.

Nuno says: “My friends are keeping me informed of everything that is going on back in England and it is very pleasing for me that the Everton fans are showing such an interest. I have seen some Everton flags at the matches and it just shows how much love they have for football.”

“I was very happy to learn that Joseph Yobo has agreed to sign a new contract. I also read that David Weir has signed a new deal and I am pleased that these good players and experienced professionals are committing themselves to Everton.”

“We have made some very good signings and once the World Cup is over I will be giving my full concentration to Everton and I will really be looking forward to the new season.”(08/07/06)

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