Everton suspends van der Meyde

Liverpool - Everton have suspended Dutch international Andy van der Meyde for a week and fined him for missing a training session.

The 27-year-old did not feature in the club's Premier League clash at Tottenham on Tuesday and has not been included in the squad for Saturday's game at Reading.

"Andy has had numerous warnings about this type of thing and we won't tolerate it any longer," manager David Moyes told the club's official website, www.evertonfc.com.

"I will make a decision regarding the player's future next week."

Van der Meyde also endured a contentious start to last season when he was admitted to hospital in the early hours of August 7 with breathing problems. It was claimed that his drink had been spiked while in a bar in Liverpool.

The Dutchman arrived at Goodison Park from Inter Milan in 2005 but has failed to impress, playing only 18 games in two seasons. - Sapa-AFP