One Of The Best Defenders In The Country

Having an injury at the start of the season, Tony has struggled to gain his place back due to good form of club skipper Phil Neville. Tony played 90 minutes for the reserves last night and Andy Holden was full of praise for the full back.

Andy says: “Tony Hibbert is a fantastic defender first and foremost and I think that on two occasions in the first half, the younger lads got caught out of position, and before you know it who was there to head it away – Tony Hibbert. He is one of the best defenders in the country.” (19/11/08)

The Club Is Geared Up For Success

Tony reckons the club is in great shape to bounce back up the league with the class of player in the team, the new facilities and the club geared for success.

Hibbo says: "The changes that the club have made since I first came into the team are unbelievable and it has been so quick. That's why we don't need to get carried away about how things are. We have got everything here to be successful. The players here are different class and the facilities we are training at now are second to none. All we need is for a rub of the green here or there and we'll be off again.

It will come. We just need to be patient, keep plugging away and do things as we always do. Then things will fall into place. Of course, we are down about the way results have gone in the past few weeks. It has been so disappointing for everyone. But we have got a lot of big games coming up now and once the internationals are back in the squad again, you will see everyone pull together.

That's what always happens when we are faced with these type of matches.It has been very frustrating but the positive thing is the fact that the lads haven't beaten themselves up over it. We know things will change but we could also do with a bit of luck. Some of the lads have been in this situation before.

We know if we keep on playing and stick together then we will turn it around. It isn't just down to the defenders, the midfielders or the forwards. Things will just click into place and then we'll be away again. Everyone will see the difference. Hopefully, it will be sooner rather than later.

The mistakes have been frustrating. There's no getting away from that. The most annoying thing is that we are getting punished for the slightest errors. There are errors in football, that's the nature of the game. But it seems as if we are being punished for every one we make.

I can remember a time here when there were errors being made all over the pitch but we didn't get punished for them. I can remember us playing terribly and winning games or getting draws. We are much better than that now and that's why we know it will change." (17/10/08)

Ready For Liege

Hibbo made his comeback from a long lay off on Saturday in the Derby and although it was hard, he hopes to be ready for the challenge in the UEFA Cup in Liege on Thursday.

Tony says: "I felt very, very tired afterwards. It was hard trying to come back and maybe I could have done with a couple of games before this one. I have been back training for a week and I felt alright in the first half. I was thankful that the gaffer gave me the nod and any local lad wants to play in the derby."

"It is a very big game. The family keep me informed of the away days and it's great for the fans to have these trips. It is another cup and I think we should be better than what we are at the moment." (30/09/08)

Back Training Soon

Everton head physio, Mick Rathbone is confident that Tony will be back in full training soon.

Basil says: "Tony Hibbert is making really good progress and, all being well, he will be rejoining the squad in the next week." (17/09/08)

Out For Start Of Season

Tony has had a knee operation over 2 months after injuring it at Arsenal. The full back has had his leg in a brace for 6 weeks, but it hasn't worked.

Physio Baz says: "Tony ruptured the ligament in his knee in the game at Arsenal. We put it in a brace for six weeks, because surgery is to be avoided at all costs. We have got him running flat out in a straight line, but any side-to-side stuff and he just doesn't feel right. Now is the optimum time to get it sorted and get it pinned back into place. Hopefully he will be there or there abouts for the start of the season. It's touch and go. If we waited longer and he needed an operation then it would really impact on the start of the season so it is the right decision." (07/07/08)

Operation Still Possible

Tony may need an operation to sort out the medial ligament rupture he suffered at the Arsenal game at the end of the season, despite having 8 weeks rest.

Hibbo says: “I’m hoping for the specialist to say that I won’t need an operation, and I really want to just kick on from where I am now. It’s not like we’ve held back but we need to know the full extent of the injury before I can start training properly.

When I did it, it felt okay. It didn’t seem bad until the result of the scan, which made it 10 times worse when I actually saw what I had done. I even said to them that it wasn’t that bad. I’ve had tweaks in my knees before and it didn’t feel anywhere near as bad as them.

We didn’t realise at first how bad it was and then the specialist said it was bad – but it’s just one of those things. I ruptured my medial ligaments, so they’ve basically come completely off the bone at the top where the nerve endings are and so that’s why I wasn’t feeling much pain.

At the moment I’m doing running, obviously not to the extent of what the other lads will be doing, but I’ll probably be able to join in with them. It’s more or less just straight line speeds at the moment and keeping steady to get my fitness up.” (30/06/08)

Don't Cut Me

Tony is hoping he doesn't need surgery after his medial ligaments were ruptured at Arsenal last season, He is seeing a specialist this week to give him the good or bad news.

Hibbo says:"I ruptured my medial ligaments, so they’ve basically come completely off the bone at the top where the nerve endings are and so that’s why I wasn’t feeling much pain. I’m hoping for the specialist to say that I won’t need an operation, and I really want to just kick on from where I am now.

"It’s not like we’ve held back but we need to know the full extent of the injury before I can start training properly. (26/06/08)