Season › 2013-14 › News Antolin Alcaraz now fit to return Lyndon Lloyd , 19 February, 0comments | Jump to most recent Injuries and muscle fatigue problems are now behind him Roberto Martinez has declared that Antolin Alcaraz is now fully fit and completely recovered from the injury problems and muscle fatigue that have plagued his time at Everton so far — not helped, so Martinez says, by having to play three games inside a week when he did return briefly, earlier in the season. The Paraguayan international, a free-transfer acquisition over the summer after his contract with Wigan Athletic expired, featured fleetingly in the Blues' pre-season preparations but was then sidelined following hernia surgery and was not able to make his full debut until the end of last year. Due to injuries to Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin, though, Martinez was forced to play Alcaraz three times in the space of six days which brought on muscle fatigue for the 32-year-old, restricting him to just one more appearance since then — in the derby drubbing at Anfield. “Antolin is fully fit now and it is just about making sure we give him the right introduction back into the team,” Martinez says. “When you come back from injury you can't expect to be out for six months and then play three games with intensity that you need in the British game, all in the space of a week. “That was needed because of the circumstances and injuries we had in the side. I never wanted for him to play three games in a week when he came back from injury and that set him back a little bit. If you look into it, there has been the same problem (as last season). He is a player that when 90% fit he declares himself ready and this is a situation where we need to help him get to 100%." Martinez is confident that Alcaraz is over his injury issues now, though, and that the club's medical staff have a better handle on his particular fitness needs. “I do feel now that he is over (his problems)," the manager continues, "and I think we are on the right path now and have a clear understanding of what Antolin needs for a clear run back into the team. Now it is a matter of controlling the input and making sure he finishes the season clear of injuries and strong.” Quotes sourced from Liverpool Daily Post About these ads © ToffeeWeb