Everton FC
Quote:
Andy van der Meyde insists he feels like a new player after being welcomed back into the Everton fold following a breach of Club discipline.
The Dutch international, who celebrates his 28th birthday on Sunday, was suspended earleir this season after missing training.
It was the latest in a catalogue of problems for the midfielder, who has endured a rollercoaster ride since arriving at Goodison in 2005.
He has been restricted to just 18 Barclays Premier League appearances in his two years at Goodison, thanks to injury, loss of form and loss of favour.
But the mercurial winger returned to training with the rest of the Everton squad this week and admits it feels like a new start at a new Club - aided by the fact the players are beginning to switch from Bellefield to the new training complex at Finch Farm.
He told evertonTV: "I am very happy to be back part of the squad.
"It is not nice training on your own. It is hard and you have to push yourself. You aren't playing games or shooting at goal and you miss that."
It has been particularly frustrating for van der Meyde because, for the first time in his spell with the Blues, he has had a run of uninterrupted full fitness since the start of pre-season.
He added: "This is the first time I have been fit and not in the team. I hope to get my chance and if I get it I will not let it go.
"It is frustrating. I love the ball. I like to play with my teammates and have fun in training. I don't like watching from the sidelines, I hate that. I want to be part of it.
"We have a lot of games so my chance will come. I was back with the squad (at Sheffield Wednesday) on Wednesday and that is important.
"People get injuries and with the number of games people get tired so there will be chances for me.
"I do feel like a new player. Today I went to the new training ground and everything is new for me now. It feels like everything is fresh and there are no problems anymore.
"Bellefield was nice and had its charms, but with the new training ground it feels like we have a new fresh start. I want to be part of that."
He has built bridges with the management staff following the issues of the past.
He added: "I hope everything is forgiven and forgotten. We have to focus on football now and I hope Everton win a lot of games, with or without me. I still want to be part of it of course."
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Heard this so many times before. He seems to think he's fit. Looks like soon Moyes will give him one last chance soon. Hopefully he's over his personal problems, he's had many since joining us. Moyes needs to give him some confidence, I think any other player who had the problems he has had at the club would had been shipped out immediately. Probably the only player in the team who could rival Arteta at all on the technical side. One thing we are crying out for is some creativity on the wings, could Andy be the solution? only time will tell..
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"What the fuck were your fans on that night ? I've followed Utd all over Europe for years and have never known a ground to be that angry, everyone sat around us was just looking at each other thinking fuckin hell".
Van Der Meyde: I feel like a new player
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