Li Tie in full training
(evertonfc.com)
Updated: 2004-10-12 09:30

Chinese international Li Tie entered the final stretch of his rehabilitation at Bellefield today after he was given the green light to start full training.

The 26-year-old hasn't joined in with the first team squad's preparations for Saturday's game with Southampton but he has been allowed to start kicking and tackling with members of the reserve team.

Chinese international midfielder Li Tie, seen here in 2003, has resumed full training with his English Premiership side Everton for the first time since breaking his shin in January. [AFP]

Li Tie has been given the go-ahead to join in full training, Head Physio Mick 'Baz' Rathbone told evertonfc.com from the Toffees' training headquarters.

Obviously he's been out for a long time so when we say full training he's not actually training with the senior players just yet but he is back outside in as much as he can get start tackling and that kind of stuff.

Baz also explained that he hopes to get Tie some part of a reserve game in the not too distant future and whilst tomorrow's mini-derby with Liverpool is out of the question, the games against Manchester City on October 26 or Wolverhampton Wanderers early next month could see him make his long awaited return.

"I hope he'll have this kind of training for the next week or two with some of the younger pro's at the club on a daily basis and then he will work into training with the senior pros, he added.

"I would hope by the end of October, early November he'll be playing his first part in a reserve game.

"It's been really tough. It's been eight months and dare I say it's dragged on somewhat.

"But If a professional footballer breaks his shin he's entitled to be out for a long time, so whilst it's taken a tad longer than we would have hoped, at the moment it's by no means a disaster.