Everton concern at Fellaini illness

Everton manager David Moyes is concerned midfielder Marouane Fellaini may miss the start of the season with the Belgium international suffering from a virus which has caused him to lose significant weight.

Fellaini did play in Sunday’s pre-season draw with Coventry but Moyes is worried he may not make the start of the Premiership campaign at home to Arsenal on August 15.

“Fellaini has had an illness for most of the summer which has affected him,” said Moyes.

“He picked up a viral infection in the summer. It got into his blood, he lost a lot of weight and he wasn’t a boy that could afford to lose any weight.

“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.

“He has not been right all through pre-season and he is still not right.

“When you are the shape and build he is, when you lose weight it’s not all that easy to put it back on.”