Everton head physio Mick Rathbone is putting down a series of knee injuries to bad luck, rather than bad management. Rathbone's treatment room has been bursting at the seams with Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka, Phil Neville, Victor Anichebe, Steven Pienaar and James Vaughan all needing rehabilitation.

Speaking to evertonTV, Rathbone says he's stunned at the squad's bad luck. "I have been a physio for 14 years and I have never known anything like this with so many serious injuries in one go," he declared.

"Injuries are part of the game but to be hit with so many long term problems has been tough."

Any suggestion that the Club are possibly to blame for the injury jinx have been flatly denied.

"If you are having these injuries year-in year-out you would have to look at yourselves and ask what are we doing wrong - but this is just a one off." explains Rathbone.

"You have to also take into account that the game is getting much faster. The players are getting stronger and therefore more powerful. The pitches now are also very firm which is starting to take its toll. So it's not just bad luck, there are other factors behind it".