• Midfielder has never played full international for Spain
• Everton star granted British citizenship last year

Everton’s Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta has said he would seriously consider playing for England if Fabio Capello ever came calling for him.

“I don’t know what [Capello's] thoughts are,” Arteta told BBC Sport. “If one day the opportunity comes, obviously I would have to consider it very seriously.”

Arteta could be called up after being given British citizenship earlier this year and has never played at full international level for his native Spain.

The 28-year-old is a long way down the pecking order with Spain, who have a plethora of fine midfielders, including Andrés Iniesta, Xavi and Cesc Fábregas, already in their European Championship and World Cup-winning squad.

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• Teenager injures liver in freak training-match accident
• Defender lucky to be alive after emergency surgery

Everton’s Shane Duffy is recovering from life-saving surgery after suffering an injury to his liver, the Premier League club has said.

The 18-year-old defender was playing in a practice match for Ireland when he suffered the freak injury. He was treated on the pitch before being taken to Mater hospital in Dublin.

Duffy had emergency surgery to repair a damaged artery, which was causing internal bleeding. The teenager has since been moved from intensive care to a high-dependency ward.

“I would like to thank [the team doctor] Dr Alan Byrne and [team consultant] Prof John O’Byrne for their quick reaction to Shane’s serious injury,” said the Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni.

“As time was critical had they not acted as they did, Shane’s life could have been in more danger than it already was,” he added. “On behalf of the FAI, I would also like to praise Prof Gerry McEntee for conducting the emergency operation and ensuring that Shane was given the best possible attention. Shane is very lucky and we wish him a speedy recovery.”

O’Byrne said he believed the injury would not occur in another 100 years of football, such was its freakish nature.

Duffy, who played for Northern Ireland’s Under-21 side before switching allegiance to Ireland, made his Everton debut against AEK Athens in the Europa League in December.

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