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BAINES' GAME AIM

/noticias.info/ Leighton Baines has revealed his eagerness to get the new season underway.

The left-back joined Everton last summer and admits that his first season with Everton was relatively frustrating, namely due to a niggling ankle injury.

But having undergone surgery two weeks ago, Baines is looking ahead to the 2008/09 campaign and aims to use the end of season break to return to full fitness.

The former Wigan Athletic defender told evertonTV: “Although I have been available for a lot of games, it was still causing me a bit of trouble, so it will be nice to get fully fit.

“I’m starting my rehab now, getting the movement back in the ankle and hopefully in the next couple of weeks I can progress a little bit further.

“It’s important for me to get back playing more regularly than I did last season. Last season it was quite difficult because I’m used to playing regularly. Picking up injuries was a new thing for me as well so I think it’s important for me next season to get a good number of games under my belt.

“I think at the end of last season I was already thinking about getting my ankle right for next season and I was just looking forward to having a good crack at it. I’m itching to get going now and I hope that the next few weeks will turn around pretty quickly.”

Baines made a total of 28 appearances for the Blues last term and although he didn’t have the run of games that he was used to in his Wigan days, the Everton fans were able to see the player’s potential.

David Moyes’ side have now qualified for the Uefa Cup for two seasons in a row and Baines explained that finishing with a win against Newcastle on the last day of the season has given the entire squad a huge boost.

He continued: “I think everyone is buzzing. Everyone was over the moon going away having secured European football.

“We got a good taste for it last year and we were desperately unlucky to go out when we did, so everyone wants to get back in there and go that little bit further next time round.” notas_de_prensa_archivo