Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini is to miss the rest of the football season with a bad ankle injury, it has been revealed.

The Belgian was hurt in a tackle during the recent Merseyside Derby that saw Liverpool's Sotirios Kyrgiakos sent off the field and a scan has confirmed that the players sustained serious ligament damage in the incident, the club has revealed.

Everton manager David Moyes commented: "He's not good. He's going to have an operation. He's got a similar injury to Robin van Persie and it's probably going to keep him out for six months."

Arsenal player van Persie was ruled out for the season after an ankle ligament injury sustained while on international duty with Holland.

A six-month lay-off would mean a return in August, around the start of next season.

Those who have suffered serious ankle damage may find that using a portable ultrasound device aids a quick recovery from the problem.

Everton's last league game saw Chelsea's Ashley Cole suffer an ankle break that is expected to keep him out of action for three months and could threaten his participation in England's World Cup campaign.