Fellaini faces six months out with ankle injury

Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini will miss the rest of the season after discovering he needs surgery on an ankle injury that is likely to keep him sidelined for six months, the Premier League club confirmed on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old Belgian international suffered the injury after being caught by an ugly two-footed lunge from Liverpool’s Sotirios Kyrgiakos during his side’s 1-0 defeat at Anfield earlier this month.

Kyrgiakos was sent off for the challenge but Fellaini had to come off after trying to resume playing.

Everton manager David Moyes, speaking to his club’s website on Tuesday, admitted Fellaini needs an operation that is certain to end his season.

“He’s not good,” Moyes said. “He’s going to have an operation. He’s got a similar injury to (Arsenal striker) Robin van Persie and it’s probably going to keep him out for six months.”