Tarkowski has played last game at Goodison as injury forces lay-off

EVERTON defender James Tarkowski has played his last game at Goodison Park. David Moyes has confirmed that the defender will not feature again this season.

- By PAUL WHEELOCK

Tarkowski came off with a hamstring injury in last Saturday's 2-0 home loss to Manchester City, who got on top after Blues boss Moyes was forced into a substitution he did not want to make.

And now the bad news has been confirmed.

Tarkowski has started every Premier League game since he joined Everton two and a half years ago and had played all but eight minutes of the current campaign until his withdrawal at the week-end.

But the next time the 32-year-old plays for the Blues will be after the club makes the move to its new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

He needs an operation that could rule him out until after the start of pre-season.

Moyes, speaking at yesterday’s press conference, said: “Tarky is out. He's going to be out for the rest of the season.

“He's going to have an operation on his hamstring.

“It's a big blow to us because Tarky has played such a huge part in what we've done and how well we've done in this period.

“I think he'll be back (for pre-season) but it could eat into that as well possibly.”