Everton goalkeeper Iain Turner has been ruled out until 2008 with a hip injury.

"Iain will be out until the New Year," head physio Mick Rathbone told evertonTV. "He has had a hip problem for around six months and we gave it every opportunity to try and allay surgery.

"But unfortunately after prolonged physio, he had a problem again kicking the ball. So we had to go to the next stage which was surgery."

Rathbone was pleased with the outcome of the operation and is now hoping the injury has been rectified.

"The operation went well and was nothing worse than we expected," he said. "The problem with the hip is that it is quite an unforgiving joint but fingers crossed the problem seems to have been solved."