Martinez: Everton quartet nearing full fitness

Manager Roberto Martinez has confirmed that four Everton players are set to return from injury, including Seamus Coleman and Muhamed Besic.

Coleman and Besic both suffered hamstring injuries in last weekend’s 3-1 victory over Chelsea, with Besic replaced by hat-trick hero Steven Naismith after just 10 minutes, while Coleman limped off to facilitate the debut of new defender Ramiro Funes Mori in the second half.

While the early prognosis was that both could face time on the sidelines, Toffees boss Martinez has confirmed that the duo are in line to return as soon as Saturday against Swansea in the Premier League, while the Spaniard could opt against said risk and use them against Reading in Tuesday’s League Cup clash.

“We’ve had positive news on both because [the problem] is the least we expected in terms of soft tissue injuries and they’re both reacting well to treatment,” Martinez told a press conference.

“It’s difficult to tell when we will be able to get them back but I would give both a chance to be involved at the weekend or Tuesday in the League Cup.

“Apart from those two, everyone is fit and available from the squad that faced Chelsea and all the other players are doing well.”

Martinez also had positive news concerning the fitness of left-back Bryan Oviedo and midfielder Darron Gibson.

Oviedo hasn’t featured since the international break after suffering a knee problem, while Gibson played 75 minutes for the Under-21s on Monday after being sidelined since March with a broken foot.

“Bryan will probably be ready for the League Cup game,” said Martinez. “Darron is a just a matter of fitness now. He played over 70 minutes at Goodison on Monday, so clearly he is on the road to regaining that match fitness.

“Medically, he’s fully fit and ready to rejoin the group, it’s just a case of getting him that match fitness.”