Martinez: I won’t discount Baines being fit for Saturday
Roberto Martinez has stressed the importance of not rushing Leighton Baines back to early from injury. The Everton manage says that the England left-back should be back within 3 weeks, but Saturday’s match against Fulham looks to have come too soon although the Spaniard has refused to rule out Baines.
“Well, it’s one of those injuries that isso frustrating,” said the Toffees chief on Thursday. “Leighton is feeling great but then when you’re trying to do some work, you realise that you’ve still got the period to heal the [toe] fracture and you need to give it a bit more time.
“I don’t think he’ll be available for Saturday, even though I wouldn’t discount him. But it will probably be a couple of weeks more realistically.
“Obviously this Saturday is a very important game at home, and then you go straight into four games in a 10-day period and it’s going to be really, really demanding.
Martinez has also emphasises Baines importance to the club doing well on all fronts and says they want to do well in the FA cup – a competition he knows well after winning it with Wigan Athletic last season.
“We want to be strong in the FA Cup as well and it will be vital for us to have Leighton fully fit.”
“The injuries are Leighton Baines and the long-term injuries to Darron and Arouna – everyone else is fit,” he added.
“Antolin Alcaraz has been training really well. Tony Hibbert had a little bit of a setback and should be back next week, but everyone else is fit and available.”
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