Armando Broja breaks silence on injury recovery in first Everton interview

Armando Broja has shared an update on his fitness in his first interview as an Everton player. The Blues moved late on transfer deadline day on Friday to sign the player on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea.

The Albania international has been frequently linked with a move to Goodison Park in recent years.

He has spent time on loan at Southampton and Fulham in the Premier League so far, although he has struggled to kick on after showing early promise due to injury issues.

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Broja is sidelined at the moment due to an Achilles issue and it has been reported he will be out until around October. The striker has shared his own assessment on his recovery with supporters in an interview with the club's official channels.

"It's going well," he said. "Hopefully, I can be back as quick as possible. I think I'm going in the right direction.

"I want to make sure I recover well and be as strong as I can, so I'm ready for the fans and my team-mates. I just can't wait to be back, to put on the shirt and just enjoy it."

As part of the terms of the deal, Everton will not start paying Broja's salary until he is available to be part of the matchday squad.

The 22-year-old says he is already looking forward to experiencing the Goodison atmosphere having played at the stadium previously.

Broja said: "The main thing that stood out for me playing at Goodison in the past was the fans. It was loud. Being on the away team, the atmosphere was remarkable. It's special and I can't wait to be on the right side of the fans this time!

"They're an amazing fanbase and they really love their football. Hopefully I can make a positive impact on them. The stadium has been around for a long, long time. Much longer than me! There are so many memories here and it'll be very nice to play here before we move.

"Competition for places is always healthy. Everyone knows that at top clubs, you’re always going to have a number of strikers who are really pushing each other. It only brings the best out in players and is only going to bring the best out in me. Hopefully it gives us more positive results."

And in terms of what he can offer when he is fit and available? Broja believes he can add something different to what Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Beto and Youssef Chermiti currently do.

Broja said: "I want to show my best here, I want to score as many goals as possible and help the team finish as high in the Premier League as possible and hopefully we can have a successful season.

"I think I'm quite a fast player. I like to run in behind and be aggressive. Obviously, I like to score goals and I like to help the team out with playmaking and really get involved in games. I can run and press and be aggressive off the ball as well. I want to add that variation. I'll give my all to the Club, to the fans and to my teammates."