James Vaughan believes he can make a late season impact for Everton.

The striker, who has not featured since a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough at Goodison Park in November, is finally back in full training.

Having suffered major injury setbacks already in his brief career, Vaughan us able to adopt a mature attitude to rehabilitation.

"The gaffer's been really good, supporting me, and like all the staff, has been telling me to take my time and get fit as quickly but as safely as possible," Vaughan told evertonfc.com.

"As long as everything goes to plan with my training and depending on what the numbers are like with the first team, hopefully I'll get a (reserve) game and take it from there.

"As a young lad you dream of being a footballer and when you play football and then it's taken away from you it's hard to deal with.

"It's good because I'm coming in each day to do something I enjoy now. As much as I don't mind doing the fitness work and the rehab, football's what I enjoy and I'm back doing that now."