Everton pay for Phelan's experience

IRISH international defender Terry Phelan is expected to make his debut for Everton against Blackburn tomorrow evening (live on Sky Sports 5.45 p.m.) after moving from Chelsea in an £850,000 deal.

Joe Royle moved in quickly for the experienced 29 year old star after Andy Hinchcliffe was ruled out for the season because of a knee injury. The former Wimbledon and Manchester City player will train with his new club at Bellefield this morning.

Phelan, who has signed a three and a half year contract with the Goodison Park club, had become increasingly unsettled at Chelsea after struggling to reclaim his first team place.

Having initially prospered at the club under Glenn Hoddle, who signed him from City for £750,000 just over a year ago, he missed the start of this season through injury and has only recently broken into Ruud Gullit's side due to injuries sustained by other players, most notably Scott Minto.

Everton, meanwhile have now plunged into a deepening defensive crisis with Andy Hinchcliffe likely to miss the rest of the season after damaging cruciate knee ligaments. Dave Watson and Craig Short are also suffering from short term injuries and Dave Unsworth is currently suspended.

Now Royle has moved to ease his problems by signing a player who will be anxious to avail of the opportunity to stake his claim to an international recall from Mick McCarthy.

"It was important that we did something in the light of the recent injury to Andy Hinchcliffe," said Royle yesterday. "Terry is an experienced player who still has much to offer. He played for Chelsea against Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend and was outstanding by all accounts."

Phelan's departure from Chelsea will force at least one change on Gullit. French international Frank Leboeuf is likely to return to the side, following suspension and a brief spell on the bench, for the visit of Liverpool tomorrow.

Leboeuf may return in his preferred role as sweeper with Gull it moving into midfield, although if Minto or Andy Myers are not fully fit, Steve Clarke may switch to the left hand side, with the player manager staying on at the back.

In Italy, meanwhile, AC Milan star Dejan Savicevic has announced that he expects to join Manchester United next summer. The 30 year old striker, who helped both Red Star Belgrade and Milan to win the European Cup, in 1991 and 1994 respectively, says his "time with AC Milan is running out" and that he may leave Serie A at the end of the season when his contract expires. "All combinations are possible, but the most probable is that I'll join Manchester United next autumn," he said.

Savicevic's arrival at Old Trafford would be a considerable boost to Alex Ferguson's attacking options for next season. However at the moment, it is at the back that the United manager has most to worry about. Gary Pallister and full back Phil Neville are both out for the New Year's Day clash with championship rivals Aston Villa (live on Sky Sports 8.00 p.m.).

The loss of Neville, who has come down with glandular fever and is expected to be out for around a month, is an untimely blow for United boss Alex Ferguson. He was already resigned to being without Gary Pallister for tomorrow's game and Sunday's FA Cup clash with Tottenham due a recurrence of back trouble.

Aston Villa midfielder Mark Draper has decided to delay surgery on a groin problem in order to help the club's Premiership title challenge. Draper is resigned to the fact that he will eventually need an operation which will keep him out of action for four to six weeks.

He is hoping, however, to postpone the treatment long enough to allow him to play in the run of key league fixtures against Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle over the next couple of weeks, as well as Villa's FA Cup tie at his former club Notts County.

Villa manager Brian Little admitted: "Mark wants to play on, as indeed the whole group of players do, and he is an important part of a winning team. We want him to keep going and he knows that he is not doing any long term damage. It's almost like the start of a hernia."

Even Little's potential problems are mild in comparison with those currently being endured by Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson. Seven of his players are definitely ruled out for the visit to Arsenal and with. three others doubtful through injury, Robson faces the prospect of having to play himself, 10 days short of his 40th birthday and nearly a year since his last first team appearance.

"I have included myself in the squad and I might play," said the former England midfielder.

Defenders Steve Vickers and Craig Liddle, along with midfielder Craig Hignett are doubtful after taking knocks in the 3-0 defeat at Coventry last Saturday.