Li Tie may have played his last game for the Blues after an operation on his long standing (no pun intended…in fact no, I'll have that one!) ankle problem has ruled him out for the rest of the season.
The Chinese international's Everton contract runs out in the summer and few would be surprised if he was released, as his chances of getting in ahead of any of our current midfielders are slim.
The 28-year-old signed for the Blues in August 2003, after which he made just five Premiership appearances. He last turned out for Everton in the 1-1 with Arsenal at Goodison on
His injury problems started after he broke his shin whilst on international duty (there's just one reason I can think of to keep Beattie well away from the World Cup) with China and he has since had problems with his right ankle. He has recently undergone surgery to remove a piece of bone that had been growing on his ankle since he's been sidelined. It may or may not be true that this was his leg trying to take root in the Bellefield turf as he has spent much of the last year standing around on it!
The operation was a success and he should make a full recovery but don't expect to see him troubling Cahill, Arteta, or even Simon Davies for that matter, for a place in the Everton midfield next season.