I was fit to play, says Fellaini

The 23-year-old's father had claimed Fellaini should never have played against Sunderland last Saturday, when he aggravated the injury sustained the previous weekend. Manager David Moyes has already described Abdellatif Fellaini's comments in the Belgian press as "a load of rubbish" and the player himself has now stepped in to defuse the row. Fellaini told the club's website: "I am aware of comments that have appeared in the media and all I can say is that I was fit to play against Sunderland. "I trained well the day before and I wouldn't play in such an important game if I wasn't ready for it and I wouldn't be selected if I wasn't fit enough. "I am bitterly disappointed to have my season ended early but these things happen in football and I just have to work through it. "It happens and nobody is to blame." It is the second year in succession Fellaini, who will have an operation on Monday, has had his season ended prematurely by an ankle injury. It is a major blow for Moyes, who is also without another influential midfielder in Tim Cahill for up to three weeks.