Alex Nyarko has insisted that no decision will be made regarding his future at Everton Football Club until the end of the season. The Ghanaian international returned to action last night in an Everton Reserve side that won 3-1 at Middlesbrough – but, despite seemingly constant speculation about his future, the player is keeping his mind firmly focussed on playing football.

"All the speculation is very stressful and it’s not something I like," he said. "At the moment I am just concentrating on the last part of the season, then I will have to discuss things with people and there are many things to consider."

Alex, though, is delighted to have returned to competitive football ahead of his original schedule. "It’s 5 weeks since my operation," he said. "They told me it would take me 6 or 7 weeks, but I have worked hard and I’m very pleased to have played 90 minutes – it is very positive for me."

A viral infection laid Alex low over the festive period and then he picked up a troublesome knee injury that required surgery, but he is hoping now for a clean bill of health for the rest of the campaign. "I was unwell for a time and missed some games," he explained. "Then when I came back I had a problem with my knee, but there are only eleven games left to play and I am keen to rejoin my colleagues in the first team."