Everton manager David Moyes has admitted the health of Marouane Fellaini is giving him some cause for concern with the new campaign only 12 days away. The Belgium midfielder has been suffering with a virus, which has resulted in significant weight loss.

Fellaini has made fleeting appearances in Everton's pre-season games, although he did manage 90 minutes in yesterday's 2-2 draw at Coventry City. Moyes is unsure as to whether the 21-year-old will be fully recovered before the Premier League opener at home to Arsenal a week on Saturday.

"Fellaini has had an illness for most of the summer which has affected him," said the Scot. "He picked up a viral infection in the summer. It got into his blood, he lost a lot of weight and he wasn't a boy that could afford to lose any weight.

Fellaini has had an illness for most of the summer. It is going to take a little while for him to get his full strength back.
Everton manager David Moyes on Marouane Fellaini

"It's noticeable looking at him how thin he has become. It has definitely had an effect on his overall performance. It is going to take a little while I feel for him to get his full strength back. I don't think he is there yet.

"He has not been right all through pre-season and he is still not right. When you are the shape and build he is, when you lose weight it's not all that easy to put it back on. Since he has come back we've been trying to get him built up, but the weight is not going back on at the moment."

Lescott to miss Blackpool date 
In-demand defender Joleon Lescott will miss tomorrow's friendly at Blackpool because of a hip injury. The England international, who also sat out yesterday's friendly, is wanted by big-spending Manchester City and the Toffees have already turned down two bids from the Eastlands club.

However, Moyes said Lescott's absence had nothing to do with the on-going speculation about the player's future.

"Joleon picked up a hip injury while we were in America," Moyes told the club's official website. "We don't expect him to be fit for Tuesday but hopefully he can make it on Friday against Malaga."