Ace Yakubu months off finest form.

Byline: IAN DOYLE

DAVID MOYES has admitted it could be up to six months before Yakubu fully regains fitness from his serious Achilles injury.

The Nigerian returned to goalscoring form on Wednesday with the opener in Everton's 4-0 Carling Cup victory at Hull City.

It was the striker's first start since rupturing his Achilles at Tottenham Hotspur last November having previously made three substitute appearances following his return to the first-team fold last month.

Yakubu was substituted at half-time in midweek after complaining of a slight thigh strain that could keep him out of today's Premier League visit to former club Portsmouth.

And Moyes believes it will take time for the Nigeria international to get back to peak condition.

"Yak is fit, but not back to the level where he was before the injury," said the Everton manager. "When you have had a ruptured Achilles, a serious injury, the nine months out was the healing part of it.

"It might take five or six months for Yak to get back to his where he wants to be. If you've had a serious injury like he has, then it takes a lot longer to get over it.

"Is he back in and around the squad and bale to do bits of games? Yes, he is.

"If you can get the ball to Yak in the box we know his history of scoring goals. But maybe the team at the moment is not ready for that, we need a centre forward to contribute more in other ways.

"That's why we need Yak to get more games and more playing time. But if there's somebody you want the ball to fall to in the box, it's Yak."

Another player Moyes reckons is still to rediscover his best is Marouane Fellaini, a club record pounds 15m signing in 2008 who struggled through pre-season and the opening weeks of this campaign as he recovered from a debilitating virus.

"I said early in the season that maybe I expected the second season to be difficult for Felli," added Moyes.

"We've tried to be careful with him. He lost a terrible amount of weight with a bug he picked up in Egypt over the summer.

"But he is now beginning to look a bit more like himself. He's had an influence in games and is beginning to get back into the form we believe he can do."

Steven Pienaar (foot) and Joseph Yobo (hamstring) both face late fitness tests ahead of today's clash at Fratton Park, but both are expected to be available.

We must show Yak patience - Moyes