Don’t Bank On Yak For Mozambique

Everton boss, David Moyes has indirectly told Super Eagles coach he would be making a big mistake if he expects Yakubu Aiyegbeni to rescue him and the Eagles in their remaining 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Mozambique in Abuja on October 11 and Kenya in Nairobi in November because the striker would need about six months to regain his goalscoring touch and sharpness as well as regaining full fitness from his serious Achilles injury.

The Nigerian returned to goalscoring form on Wednesday with the opener in Everton’s 4-0 Carling Cup victory at Hull City.
It was the striker’s first start since rupturing his Achilles at Tottenham Hotspur last November having previously made three substitute appearances after making his comeback to the first-team fold last month.

Yakubu was substituted at half-time in midweek after complaining of a slight thigh strain that kept him out the Toffees visit to Portsmouth last Saturday.
And Moyes believes it will take time for the Nigeria international to get back to peak condition after such a major injury.
“Yak is fit, but not back to the level where he was before the injury,” said the Everton manager. “When you have had a ruptured Achilles, a serious injury, the nine months out was the healing part of it.

“It might take five or six months for Yak to get back to his where he wants to be. If you’ve had a serious injury like he has, then it takes a lot longer to get over it.
“Is he back in and around the squad and bale to do bits of games? Yes, he is.
“If you can get the ball to Yak in the box we know his history of scoring goals. But maybe the team at the moment is not ready for that, we need a centre forward to contribute more in other ways.
“That’s why we need Yak to get more games and more playing time. But if there’s somebody you want the ball to fall to in the box, it’s Yak.”