'Pain-Free' Broja Makes Everton Promise

Armando Broja has promised Evertonians he is "100 per cent sure there is way more to come" from him during the Blues' final stretch of the 2024/25 season.

The Albania striker – on loan from Chelsea for the current campaign – saw momentum from his early Everton career curtailed by an ankle injury sustained in an FA Cup clash with Peterborough in January, an issue that saw him sidelined for 10 games.

Now fit again, the 23-year-old has appeared off the bench in each of the Blues' past three matches, as well as making two appearances for his national team – including a start in a 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Andorra.

With seven games remaining, Broja has set his sights on producing goals, assists and performances to help the Toffees finish the term in the best possible manner and ensure Goodison Park is given a fitting farewell.

Speaking to evertontv after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Arsenal, Broja said: "I feel much better now. I'm happy I can come back on the pitch and play pain-free. That's all I wanted – to be pain-free, to enjoy my football, play in front of the fans and try to do the best for the team.

"I'm 100 per cent sure, there's way more to come from me. There's still the best to come from me. There's so much more I can do. 

"There's going to be moments where the goals are going to come, assists are going to come, and I'm going to play way better, for sure.

"But, like I said, the most important thing for me is to be back in and amongst it again, to play pain-free and to just leave whatever sort of injuries I've had in the past and just move on forward."

Speaking of the importance of making a mark between now and the end of the season, Broja continued: "It's absolutely important. Wherever you are, whatever player you are, it's always important when you have an opportunity to show the manager, show the fans, show the Club, show everyone what you can do. That's the part of being a player. 

"Every time you step over that white line, it's about you giving your all, no matter where you are, what level you're at, it's always about doing the best for yourself and for the Club. 

"For sure I want to go over that white line and just give it everything I have. And, like I said, the best is yet to come for me. I know what I can do, I know what I'm capable of and I can push on from here."

Everton now prepare for a trip to third-place Nottingham Forest this weekend, before returning to Goodison Park to welcome reigning Premier League champions Manchester City a week later.

But after two close encounters last week with Liverpool and Arsenal, who currently occupy the top two positions in the Premier League table, Broja says the Toffees will be attacking each game with genuine confidence.

"Liverpool and Arsenal were tough games – they're tough teams and that's the reason they're up there, but we played well in both games and probably could have got more from both games, if I'm being honest," said Broja. "[Against Arsenal], especially, I didn't think Arsenal were affecting us that much.

"We definitely had some chances, especially in the second half, starting with the penalty and after that as well, where we had a few chances to cause them a few problems at the back.

"But the fact we came from behind to get a point shows the character we have in the dressing room. I mean, even before I came here, every time we played against Everton, it was always a hard game. We always knew that it's going a tough game. 

"They always dig in and I think that's always been in [Everton's] nature. You could definitely see it today as well. We don't stop. We keep going until the final whistle."

With just three games remaining at Goodison Park, Broja is also focused on playing his part in what is certain to be an emotional farewell to the 133-year-old stadium.

"It's going to be a special run-in, for sure," he added. "It's a historic moment in the Club's history, obviously, being the last season at Goodison. 

"It's a big one for the fans, a big one for the Club, so we want to make and get up as high as possible on the table. 

"We've still seven games left and we know we've got a few top sides to face again but we're gonna give it our all and make sure we get up as high as possible."