Mirallas hopes for injury-free Everton season

Everton's Kevin Mirallas is hoping to avoid the injuries which disrupted his maiden Premier League season so he can improve his goalscoring record.

The Belgium international struck nine times in 32 matches having signed from Olympiacos but was hampered by a niggling hamstring injury which initially sidelined him for a month and then a further six weeks soon after returning.

It reduced his effectiveness when he finally returned to the first team but he ended the season strongly with six goals in his last 13 appearances.

Mirallas has scored on three occasions in Everton's four pre-season friendlies and he is looking to carry that form into the coming campaign under new manager Roberto Martinez.

"I have scored three goals in four games so for me it's been a good pre-season," he told evertonfc.com.

"More importantly I have had no injuries. It's my second season. I played a lot of games last season and I hope to stay injury-free and score a lot of goals.

"Of course I want to make a lot of assists as well and play some nice games."