Everton striker James Vaughan has been given the all-clear by famed knee specialist, Dr Richard Steadman.

The Blues, currently on a tour of the United States, are just two hours from Dr Steadman's clinic. Therefore the decision was taken to send Vaughan, who underwent knee surgery in March, for a consultation.

"We're in the vicinity of Doctor Richard Steadman's clinic in Colorado, so we took the opportunity to pop Vaughany up there and let the great man have a look at him," head physio Mick Rathbone told evertonTV.

"We're pleased with the way James is going and Dr Steadman is equally pleased.

"He agrees with our programme that James is going to play little bits of games and do a little bit of work with the medical team during the week. It's fingers crossed that if things go the way James wants them to he'll be starting games in a couple of weeks."