ANDY VAN DER MEYDE could be given an opportunity to resurrect his turbulent Everton career tonight. The former Holland international is included in the squad that will face Sheffield Wednesday for the first time since he was heavily reprimanded for missing a training session after the Blues’ opening day win over Wigan Athletic. Van der Meyde has been no stranger to controversy since he moved to Merseyside in a £1.8m deal from Internazionale in August 2005 and, for the past month, has been made to train with reserves. But yesterday he was brought back into the first team fold. Whether he plays any part at Hillsborough remains to be seen, but assistant boss Alan Irvine hopes van der Meyde’s troubles are now behind him. “Andy was disciplined for badly stepping out of line,” said Irvine. “But there has to come a time when the punishment is over and Andy has started training with us again. “He is in the squad. He was obviously disappointed with what he had done but he has been strongly punished. I’m not saying that the punishment wasn’t appropriate and Andy isn’t saying that, either. “He was out of order and he knows that. Hopefully, it will never happen again. “We all want to see the player who did so well for Ajax and then went to Inter Milan. Sadly, for a number of reasons, we haven’t seen that while he’s been here. “I’m hoping that it has been a lesson for him and maybe it sets him back on the right path. “I’m sure it has been very difficult for him but he brought it upon himself.” One man, though, who will not be involved tonight is Mikel Arteta. Everton have struggled for creativity in his absence but Irvine has given a positive update on his situation and the Spaniard could be unleashed against Middlesbrough this Sunday. “Hopefully, Mikel will be ready for the weekend,” said Irvine. “He wrenched his ankle ligaments when he went to kick a ball in training. “It’s getting better all the time and he isn’t far away. “Everyone is reliant on their best players. Chelsea are complaining about Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba being out at the minute and rightly so. “Mikel is one of our top players and did we expect to miss him? Yes. Anybody would,” Irvine added. | 
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