Saha offers to work for free until he's fit but Toffees put him straight on the wage bill

Updated: 05:34 EST, 4 September 2008

Louis Saha offered to work for free at Everton until he regains full fitness following his move from Manchester United.

But Everton are so confident that the injury-hit France striker, who cost United £12.8m from Fulham in January 2004, will be back in action later this month that they put him on the wage bill straightaway on a two-year contract.

Fighting to be fit: Louis Saha

'It was something I did offer them,' revealed Saha yesterday. 'That is my type of mentality — I want to be able to look myself in the mirror.'

Saha's Old Trafford career was plagued by injury to such an extent that it was suggested the problems might be in his head.

He added: 'I’d had a few setbacks and it was very frustrating. People have said it’s psychological, but in my head I know that’s not true.'