7. Andy van der Meyde - 08/09

I'll Be Back

Andy Shandy Vandy Pandy Mandy is determined to be back in the team as soon as possible. Good luck Andy.

He says: “It’s my aim to get back in the side. I need it, Everton need it, the supporters deserve it and I can’t wait to get back in the team and give them something back.

“Sometimes I have the feeling that people think, ‘look at him, he’s injured again and enjoying it’, but that isn’t the case, I want to play football. I want to feel how you feel when you’re on the pitch and you hear the supporters scream and I want to have the feeling of scoring a goal.

“I can’t wait to be back in the team. It’s hard when you’re not around your team-mates making jokes and I can’t wait to be able to shoot on goal again.(09/10/08)

Bad News

Shandy's start to the season has hit with a major injury. He came off early in the Notts Forest game. He will miss the first month of the season.

Baz Rathbone says: "Andy’s is a significant injury I’m afraid. He’s pulled his hamstring. It’s quite bad so we’ve sent him back to the training ground for a scan. It’s so disappointing for Andy, he’s trained so hard this pre-season and he was doing well.” (27/07/08)

I Can Do a Job, Honest

Andy van is looking to spend a few more seasons with the Blues, and it has never been his intention to leave. Shandy who has had a lot more downs that ups in his time at Goodison is out of contract next Summer, and he is looking to get into shape and show Moyesy what he has been missing since he joined the Blues back in 2005. The Dutch Winger played in the Blues defeat against FC Sion on Saturday and his appearance in a Blue shirt has whetted his appetite. See you in October in the Carling Cup game then Shandy, that gives you some time to get fit.

Shandy says: " I need to stay as fit as I can and not get any more injuries. If I can do that, then maybe everything will be all right. I want to do my best. It’s difficult but I hope I can still be important for Everton. I don’t want to get too carried away. There is still lots of work to be done and there is big challenge ahead.

I’m not looking to go anywhere else. I want to stay with Everton and that has always been the case. I have had difficult times but I want to give something back to everyone. I also want to do it for myself. It has been too long since I played well. I’ve been thinking about pre-season all summer and now I just want to get myself right.

It was so nice to be playing again. It is such a long time since I have had that feeling. I played 90 minutes, we lost but the result doesn’t count. Right now things are all about getting yourself into good physical shape and we had a really good week. If you put the hard work in now, you will get things back later on. Pre-season isn’t nice for footballers but you have to get on with it and do your very best." (14/07/08)