在英国当地时间10月6日进行了一场埃弗顿同曼联的预备队比赛，埃弗顿在比赛中1比3告负，李铁甚至未能进入预备队的比赛大名单。而李铁本人却对自己在古迪逊公园球场的未来保持乐观态度。日前，李铁将回到国家队参加下周中国同德国队的友谊赛。报道如下：

Li, who hasn't played for the Everton first team since January last year when he suffered a freak leg injury while on international duty, said he is close to full match fitness and relishes¹ a return to the first team.

While Li has been sidelined, he has watched Everton plummet² to the foot of the Premiership table and also suffer early exits in the Champions League and UEFA Cup.

文中的sideline为"迫使退出比赛"的意思。如：He was sidelined with an ankle injury.（他因踝部受伤而被停止比赛。）sideline 还可作名词使用，指"球场上的边线"、"兼职、副业"等。词组on the sidelines可表示"作为旁观者；不参与"的意思。