Valente vents frustration at injury-hit season

Defender aims for Anfield comeback

Portuguese defender Nuno Valente has revealed his frustration at the injuries that have disrupted his season with English Premiership side Everton.

The left-back made a positive impression during his first season at Everton following his move from FC Porto in 2005, but has been restricted to just ten league appearances for the Toffees this campaign as a result of various injuries.

The latest blow came when the 32-year-old suffered a knee injury in the FA Cup defeat to Blackburn, and he has already been ruled out until next month with a bad strain of the knee joint.

“I am not too bad and I hope to back in the next two or three weeks,” he said. “It was a bit scary at first because my knee was really swollen, but the injury wasn’t as bad as we first thought.”

“This season, I’ve been really unlucky with injuries. I have been getting them on and off. It’s not something you want, but it happens and it’s not just muscles that have been the problem.”

“I hope this is the last injury for the season. It’s very frustrating to not be playing. There’s never a good time to be injured, but with Gary and Sandro (Pistone) coming back I’ll have to be recovered as soon as possible to try and get back in the team.”

Valente has already been pencilled in for a possible return for Everton’s Merseyside derby with arch-rivals Liverpool on February 2nd at Anfield.