Yakubu targets start of season

Yakubu's season ended at White Hart Lane

Everton striker Yakubu is hoping to be fit for the start of next season.

The 26-year-old Nigerian International has not played since suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon at Tottenham Hotspur last November.

"I'm getting better and training every day with the physio who is so wonderful to me," he told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"For almost eight months I haven't been playing football but at the moment it's great. I don't know but I think at the beginning of the season I'll be ready."

Yakubu ,who was devastated to suffer a season-ending injury was not the only forward on the treatment table at Finch farm as the season went on.

At one stage David Moyes had no recognised senior strikers to select as alongside Yakubu. Louis Saha, Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan were all struck down by injury.

"They did so well fighting for each other, which is good. The spirit in the team is good and you have to give credit to the players.

"It's unbelievable to have a team with no normal strikers, doing so well finishing fifth and getting to the FA Cup final," said Yakubu.

For his own part Yakubu says he is now ready to play a full part in the Blues pre-season training regime.

"At the moment it is good and there is no reaction and hopefully I will join them in pre-season, which is good news."