BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | E | Everton | Fellaini may miss start of season
Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini may miss the start of the new Premier League season on 15 August after being struck down by a debilitating virus.
The 21-year-old Belgium international has suffered significant weight loss because of the illness and is doubtful for the start of the campaign.
"He has had an illness for most of the summer," said Everton boss David Moyes.
"It got into his blood and he lost a lot of weight. He has not been right all pre-season and is still not right."
Everton's first top-flight game of the 2009/2010 season is against Arsenal at Goodison Park and Fellaini's absence would be keenly felt following an impressive introduction to English football last season.
Everton's first top-flight game of the 2009/2010 season is against Arsenal at Goodison Park and Fellaini's absence would be keenly felt following an impressive introduction to English football last season.
He scored nine times in 35 matches and proved a pivotal figure in the Toffees' charge to fifth spot.
606: DEBATE
Can Everton cover for Fellaini?
But although he has made appearances in Everton's pre-season games, he faces a fight to face the Gunners as he struggles to put the weight back on.
"He wasn't a boy that could afford to lose any weight," added Moyes. "It's noticeable looking at him how thin he has become. It has definitely had an effect on his overall performance.
"It is going to take a little while I feel for him to get his full strength back. I don't think he is there yet.
"When you are the shape and build he is, when you lose weight it's not all that easy to put it back on.
"Since he has come back we've been trying to get him built up but the weight is not going back on at the moment."
Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini may miss the start of the new Premier League season on 15 August after being struck down by a debilitating virus.
The 21-year-old Belgium international has suffered significant weight loss because of the illness and is doubtful for the start of the campaign.
"He has had an illness for most of the summer," said Everton boss David Moyes.
"It got into his blood and he lost a lot of weight. He has not been right all pre-season and is still not right."
Everton's first top-flight game of the 2009/2010 season is against Arsenal at Goodison Park and Fellaini's absence would be keenly felt following an impressive introduction to English football last season.
Everton's first top-flight game of the 2009/2010 season is against Arsenal at Goodison Park and Fellaini's absence would be keenly felt following an impressive introduction to English football last season.
He scored nine times in 35 matches and proved a pivotal figure in the Toffees' charge to fifth spot.
606: DEBATE
Can Everton cover for Fellaini?
But although he has made appearances in Everton's pre-season games, he faces a fight to face the Gunners as he struggles to put the weight back on.
"He wasn't a boy that could afford to lose any weight," added Moyes. "It's noticeable looking at him how thin he has become. It has definitely had an effect on his overall performance.
"It is going to take a little while I feel for him to get his full strength back. I don't think he is there yet.
"When you are the shape and build he is, when you lose weight it's not all that easy to put it back on.
"Since he has come back we've been trying to get him built up but the weight is not going back on at the moment."
