Wednesday 18 November 2015 16:46, UK
Everton midfielder Tom Cleverley is hoping to mark his comeback from injury with a goal against former club Aston Villa.
The 26-year-old, who joined from Manchester United in the summer having spent last season on loan at Villa, has been sidelined since August due to an ankle ligament injury sustained in the goalless draw with Tottenham.
Cleverley returned to first-team contention last month, but was an unused substitute in the defeat away at Arsenal.
A groin injury then prevented him making his comeback following the match with the Gunners and saw him miss the victories over Norwich and Sunderland and the draw with West Ham.
But having battled his way back to full fitness, Cleverley is eager to finally make his return following a difficult couple of months.
"The last few months have been massively frustrating," he told the club's official website. "I don't think any player wants to get injured but when you are settling in at a new club and finding your feet pretty quickly - which I thought I was - then it is even more so.
"You have just got to back yourself to come back from it, work as hard as ever, and hope that, when I do get back into the team, it feels like I have never been away.
"Whenever you have a long-term injury, you are susceptible to a couple of hiccups. I just had a little one with my groin in a training session, but you have got to expect these things. It is hard coming back from a long lay-off. But I am as fit as ever now and raring to go."
Cleverley scored the winner for Villa in a 3-2 victory over Everton in May, a win which helped the midlands club secure their Premier League survival.
The England international says he is aiming to repeat the feat, only this time for Everton at Goodison Park.
"I'd like to think I won't get too much stick for that," he added. "I was just doing my job on the day.
"I was doing my best to impress people. Hopefully I can get another goal in this fixture... but for Everton this time."
