http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...clusive-kevin-mirallas-admits-playing-8448001
Kevin Mirallas admits he is playing through the pain of an ongoing ankle injury at Everton FC.
But the Belgian believes he will be back to full fitness in the next 10 days. Mirallas suffered damage to his ankle ligaments in a challenge from Queens Park Rangers’ Jordon Mutch on 15 December, and has been hampered by the problem ever since. He has seen his training regime disrupted, and has managed to play 90 minutes just once in the last six games.
But the 27-year-old turned in an excellent display as a substitute in the Blues’ FA Cup defeat to West Ham United on Tuesday, scoring one goal and making another for Romelu Lukaku, and is expected to return to Roberto Martinez’s starting line-up for the Premier League clash with West Bromwich Albion at Goodison Park on Monday.“The reason I didn’t start the last two games was because I have pain in my ankle,” Mirallas told the ECHO. “It’s difficult, because some days it is good, and some days it is not so good.
“Before the West Ham game I spoke with the manager, and he told me that when I came off the bench I had to make the difference. That gave me confidence and made me feel good. “Even though we were playing 10 versus 11 in that game, it was no problem. After the red card, the team played very well and scored two goals. Those last five minutes were difficult for me though!”
Mirallas revealed he had seen a specialist from the Belgian national team in a bid to overcome his issue, which is caused by a fraying of the ligaments in his left ankle.He does, however, expects the problem to sort itself in the next week or so. “Some days I train normally, some days I can’t,” he said. “The last two weeks, it has been difficult. “After the Stoke City game (on Boxing Day), I was in a lot of pain and couldn’t start against Newcastle. I did 30 minutes in that game but I still felt bad. And after the first game against West Ham, I felt bad, not fit.
“I have seen a specialist from Belgium over it. He came two days before the last game, and you can see I felt better after that! He worked his magic!“I think in 10 days I will feel 100%. But for now, it is 90%. The main thing is that I am able to play.”
Kevin Mirallas admits he is playing through the pain of an ongoing ankle injury at Everton FC.
But the Belgian believes he will be back to full fitness in the next 10 days. Mirallas suffered damage to his ankle ligaments in a challenge from Queens Park Rangers’ Jordon Mutch on 15 December, and has been hampered by the problem ever since. He has seen his training regime disrupted, and has managed to play 90 minutes just once in the last six games.
But the 27-year-old turned in an excellent display as a substitute in the Blues’ FA Cup defeat to West Ham United on Tuesday, scoring one goal and making another for Romelu Lukaku, and is expected to return to Roberto Martinez’s starting line-up for the Premier League clash with West Bromwich Albion at Goodison Park on Monday.“The reason I didn’t start the last two games was because I have pain in my ankle,” Mirallas told the ECHO. “It’s difficult, because some days it is good, and some days it is not so good.
“Before the West Ham game I spoke with the manager, and he told me that when I came off the bench I had to make the difference. That gave me confidence and made me feel good. “Even though we were playing 10 versus 11 in that game, it was no problem. After the red card, the team played very well and scored two goals. Those last five minutes were difficult for me though!”
Mirallas revealed he had seen a specialist from the Belgian national team in a bid to overcome his issue, which is caused by a fraying of the ligaments in his left ankle.He does, however, expects the problem to sort itself in the next week or so. “Some days I train normally, some days I can’t,” he said. “The last two weeks, it has been difficult. “After the Stoke City game (on Boxing Day), I was in a lot of pain and couldn’t start against Newcastle. I did 30 minutes in that game but I still felt bad. And after the first game against West Ham, I felt bad, not fit.
“I have seen a specialist from Belgium over it. He came two days before the last game, and you can see I felt better after that! He worked his magic!“I think in 10 days I will feel 100%. But for now, it is 90%. The main thing is that I am able to play.”
