Yobo brother's Nigerian kidnap ordeal finally comes to a safe end

Kidnappers have released the older brother of the Everton and Nigeria defender Joseph Yobo after almost two weeks in captivity. Norum Yobo was snatched at gunpoint with three other men on 5 July as they made their way home from a nightclub in Rivers State, Nigeria. After a 12 days of uncertainty, Norum Yobo's release was confirmed by John Ola Shittu, who manages Joseph's affairs. "He was released last night and he flew into Lagos this morning to meet his brothers," Shittu said. "He is now at home resting and just trying to recover."

Meanwhile, Yobo's team-mate Tim Cahill will not be fit for the start of the new season. The Australian is continuing his recovery from a broken metatarsal and joins young striker James Vaughan as a long-term absentee. The Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta has provided better news for manager David Moyes, however, after resuming full training following stomach surgery. "Mikel is training with us again and that is a boost," Moyes said.

"We are pleased with the progress that he has made and there is an outside chance that he will be involved when we play Cambridge on Saturday. James Vaughan is coming on all the time, but it is a slow process with him. It is the same for Tim Cahill and I am not expecting him to be fit for the start. He is going over to Australia to see the specialist but it is so far, so good."