Everton striker Arouna Kone fit and ready for Europa League clash

Posted Thursday, December 11, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

AROUNA KONE reached a point during this summer when he wondered whether his injury problems would ever end.

Everton striker Arouna Kone fit and ready for Europa League clash
Kone makes his first appearance for Everton tonight since injuring his knee last year

The Everton striker made just six appearances for Everton – five of them off the bench – in the 2013-14 campaign following his £5million move from Wigan.

The last of those came in a 2-1 win over Hull in October over a year ago when Kone broke down with a knee cartilage injury which required surgery.

The path back to full fitness has been a long one. Instead of spending last summer on the beach he remained at Everton's Finch Farm training ground.

He appeared to be on the brink of a comeback at the start of this season only to suffer further complications which delayed a return.

"That was the lowest point," Kone said. "I was so determined to get back as quick as possible I stayed here to do some extra physical work over the summer break.

"I was ready to start doing pre-season with the team. Having done that I felt the same problem and an extra pain when we started that. I thought then, 'When's it going to end?'"

Eventually the hours of rehabilitation paid off and Kone is ready to reignite his Everton career when he starts against Russian side Krasnodar this evening.

The chance to feature in a dead-rubber Europa League group game, against a team from the former Soviet Union, might not set the pulses of the majority of the senior players in Everton's squad racing.

But given his lengthy spell on the sidelines, Kone revealed a genuine enthusiasm for the challenge.

"I am really excited about the game," said the Ivory Coast international. "It has been such a long wait.

"To tell you the truth, it feels like making my first ever appearance of my career all over again. It's like making my debut for Everton for a second time."

While he was on the comeback trail Kone has seen Everton break their club transfer record with the £28m signing of Romelu Lukaku, and snap up experienced goalscorer Samuel Eto'o on a free transfer.

However the 31-year-old, who signed a three-year contract with Everton, maintains he can still bring a different dimension to the attacking options at manager Roberto Martinez's disposal.

"We are different players as strikers," Kone added. "And what I would say is that working all together we would be a tremendous threat for any opposition.

"It was almost like an extra motivation to get myself back and in the team and get some good performances to get this team up the table.