Saha commits, Johnson out for season

Soccer: Everton striker Louis Saha has signed a two-year contract extension which will keep him at the club until the summer…

Soccer:Everton striker Louis Saha has signed a two-year contract extension which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2012, while Fulham striker Andrew Johnson has been ruled out for the season.

The 31-year-old Frenchman's current deal was due to expire this summer and he was attracting interest from a number of clubs.

However, he has opted to extend his stay with the Toffees having joined from Manchester United in 2008.

"It was an easy decision. You always think carefully but it didn't take me long to know I wanted to stay because I have enjoyed my time here and I want to be part of the future of Everton," said Saha.

READ MORE

"It is a pleasure and an honour to stay here. At certain stages in your career you look at where you are going and by staying at Everton I feel I am going up in my career."

Saha, the club's leading scorer this season with 13 goals from just 20 starts, added on the club's website evertonfc.com: "I appreciate the way the Everton fans support the team and the way they support me all the time.

"It is a pleasure to be here and see the way the fans work for the team, they help all the players.

"It feels like a family and I really feel a part of it."

Saha was linked with a host of clubs both in England and overseas but manager David Moyes, ahead of tomorrow's 213th Merseyside derby at Anfield, said he never doubted the Frenchman would agree to stay.

"A lot of stupid nonsense has been written about Louis. We have always felt quite confident Louis would sign a new contract," he added.

Fulham confirmed that Johnson will be out for the rest of the season. The 28-year-old has endured a nightmare campaign as collarbone, groin and knee problems have restricted him to just eight Premier League appearances.

The forward consulted renowned American surgeon Dr Richard Steadman and underwent knee surgery in Colorado yesterday.

Following the surgery, Steadman has advised Fulham that Johnson will not be fit to return this term and the Cottagers expect him to take part in the latter part of pre-season training.

Johnson last played in the 2-0 defeat at Blackburn last month and Fulham manager Roy Hodgson had initially hoped he would be able to return in March before it was confirmed he would have to go under the knife.

The news is a major blow for Hodgson, who may also be without defender John Pantsil for the remainder of the campaign with a knee problem. The Cottagers also have forwards Clint Dempsey and Zoltan Gera sidelined through injury.

When it was confirmed Johnson needed surgery, Hodgson said: "I am disappointed in that, because I was still believing he was going to come back and it would not be that long.

"Now I may be looking at the rest of the season with a limited and inexperienced group of front players."