Injured trio's recovery on track

, 7 July, 20comments  |  Jump to most recent
Leighton Baines, Bryan Oviedo and Darron Gibson are all making good progress in their respective recoveries according to Roberto Martinez.

The trio were absent from the squad that will travel to Singapore for the Asia Trophy next week as they work their way back from the injuries that prematurely ended their 2014-15 season but the manager is happy that they are on track to be ready for around the start of the new season which kicks off in a month's time.

Oviedo and Gibson are both healing from metatarsal fractures while Baines is undergoing rehabilitation following surgery in April to correct a long-standing ankle problem.

The England international might not make the 2015-16 kick-off against Watford on 8th August but Martinez says he will be "there or there abouts" for the beginning of the campaign.

“All three players are coming on really strong in relation to their respective rehabilitation programmes,” the manager told evertonfc.com.

“Although they won't be taking part in the games at the Barclays Asia Trophy, they could be back playing a part with the team even sooner than anticipated.

“Leighton is well ahead of where we expected him to be at this point and all three will be there or thereabouts for the start of the season.”

 

Reader Comments (20)

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Anthony Hawkins
1 Posted 07/07/2015 at 18:19:18
Please donÂ’t rush any of them back before theyÂ’re ready. We need a fully fit squad with no relapses beyond what can be managed.
Colin Glassar
2 Posted 07/07/2015 at 18:47:39
WeÂ’d better keep Garbutt until we are absolutely sure that one of the two is able to start the season at LB.
Jim Bennings
3 Posted 07/07/2015 at 18:58:09
Trouble is you could keep Gibson in cotton wool until November and heÂ’d still have a relapse after three or four games, or get another new injury.

Oviedo, as much as I like him as a player, has also become dogged by injuries since the leg break 18 months ago; itÂ’s hard to see him sustaining the levels he had before the injuries set in.

Scott Bosworth
4 Posted 07/07/2015 at 19:22:16
HeadlineÂ’s subtext:

"GibsonÂ’s next injury has also been scheduled for the match following his return."

Frank Crewe
5 Posted 07/07/2015 at 20:19:06
Gibson always manages to get fit just in time for his next injury. CanÂ’t be many players who have spent an entire career on the physioÂ’s table.
Geoffrey Risebrow
6 Posted 07/07/2015 at 21:11:27
Gibbo and Oviedo Baby are fantastic players but if and when they do recover from their latest injuries, it has to be make or break time, especially in the case of Gibson!
Trevor Lynes
7 Posted 07/07/2015 at 21:38:57
Geoffrey, how on earth can you waste a word like ’fantastic’ on two players who are injured? In which one of Gibson’s games did he reach the level of fantastic ?

He played sporadically at Man Utd when he was fully fit, FFS. Oviedo was injured with us and that was unfortunate but Gibson was injured at United and that is why he was dumped by them. How many more crocks are we going to give jobs to? Saha was another crock and so is Kone.

We need and deserve a squad of players who are fit at the start of the season otherwise they should not be numbered on the first team squad list and certainly not considered for contract extensions until they have played at least five consecutive matches.

We should be re-titled Everton Infirmary.

Brian Cleveland
8 Posted 07/07/2015 at 22:12:33
Not sure I get all this Oviedo ’sicknote’ stuff..... a horrible leg break that cannot in any way shape or form go down as a sicknote, and then a hamstring injury not long after coming back, plus a fractured bone in the foot. The hamstring injury might or might not have something to do with the broken leg and still trying to get back to his previous level of fitness.

Now unless the leg break has meant he has suddenly developed brittle bone disease, the metatarsal thingy can only be put down to bad luck.... it happens.

I think it is very premature to say he is injury prone and start writing him off, which is becoming a more frequent occurrence herein. ItÂ’s not yet time to put him in the padded cell with Gibbo!

Keith Harrison
9 Posted 08/07/2015 at 08:12:24
TheyÂ’ll be fit for the pre-season friendly at Southport in 2018.
Ben Mackenzie
10 Posted 08/07/2015 at 11:34:14
Well said, Brian.
Tony Marsh
12 Posted 08/07/2015 at 11:54:42
Darron who?

Oviedo... I feel sorry for the kid but that bad break has done for his career, I’m afraid...

Tony J Williams
13 Posted 08/07/2015 at 12:07:42
Amen, Brian.

I reserve the words "injury-prone" to the players that keep on having muscular issues.

Hammys continuing to snap, thighs seizing or knees exploding, that sort of thing.

Bones breaking is not a fitness issue, itÂ’s a luck issue.

Keith Monaghan
14 Posted 08/07/2015 at 18:55:08
Agree with Brian – Oviedo deserves our patience and support.

Gibson’s a different matter altogether - a bad signing by Moyes - virtually all Man Utd fans were laughing their socks off when we took him from them; he had a very bad injury/availability record with them and has continued like that here. Needs to be moved on asap – certainly shouldn’t be given an extension on his contract. Much better to give a young player a chance to be in the squad.

This club cannot afford to continue signing injury-prone players – they are simply a waste of a salary and a source of frustration to fans (and probably other squad members too).

Geoffrey Risebrow
15 Posted 08/07/2015 at 20:09:41
I know what you mean, Trevor. I am just saying that I happen to rate both players. I also agreed with your point that we shouldnÂ’t keep injury-prone players... Hello, Bryan.

I certainly am not writing Oviedo off. I am merely stating that it is a big season for him to prove his fitness after his terrible leg break. I think most fans would agree that Gibson will never be fit on a regular basis but I have my fingers crossed for Oviedo. I think theyÂ’re both genuine lads as well.

Ant Dwyer
16 Posted 09/07/2015 at 03:09:42
Unfortunately Gibson and Oviedo will spend most of their season in the treatment room along with Kone and Pienaar.

Easy solution would be to move on Kone, Oviedo and Pienaar, allow Gibson a pay-as-you-play deal or his contract to run down (providing he hasnÂ’t quite signed his 2-year deal).

We could also throw Hibbert into that and save something like £200k a week in wages (£10M a year). Just a thought.

Ben Mackenzie
17 Posted 09/07/2015 at 07:36:29
Ant, Oviedo does not fall into the Â’sicknoteÂ’ category. He had a horrific injury whist giving 100% on the pitch for this club and deserves a little more empathy.

I also think Kone may surprise a few doubters this season. IÂ’d love to think Gibson will play a significant role too, as when fit, is an excellent player. but he really is injury prone. But you never know, maybe if he retires from international footy, he could improve his chances of maintaining some level of fitness. I for one am hoping he does. ThatÂ’s all I have as an Evertonian, hope!

Ant Dwyer
18 Posted 09/07/2015 at 08:18:22
Ben, Oviedo did have a horrific leg break two years ago and is unable to get fit as a result. Kone couldnÂ’t surprise anyone as heÂ’s 32 and has never been good enough. Gibson has played less than 30 games in 4 years.
Ant Dwyer
19 Posted 09/07/2015 at 08:23:28
Oh lastly Ben, you claim all you have as a Evertonian is hope but IÂ’ve just shown you that the fact is, if we didnÂ’t keep dead wood we may have a new player who can actually get onto the pitch.

Maybe a young £6M player with potential and a 4-year, £20k-a-week contract.

Ben Mackenzie
22 Posted 09/07/2015 at 19:53:38
OviedoÂ’s injury wasnÂ’t 2 years ago already surely. How time flies! He has since pulled a hamstring then broke a metatarsal. IÂ’d prefer to think heÂ’s had rotten luck.

Kone got into double figures in a relegated side before joining us. He then had a horrible injury. At 32, if fit, he could still be a useful player for a year or two.

ItÂ’s difficult for me to argue a case for Gibson but, when he has been on the pitch, heÂ’s looked a classy player. I just hope, and given the fact he has a contract extension, Roberto and Co obviously have some hope for him too.

But yes, I take your point on getting a younger, less injury-prone player in instead. I just hope we donÂ’t lose McCarthy to the spuds or anyone else for that matter.

Ant Dwyer
23 Posted 10/07/2015 at 00:11:39
I do agree over McCarthy mate, and over Gibson to a certain degree as he definitely has ability but I can't help but feel he's always going to be that way.

Oviedo was looking awesome before his leg break and would have been my first choice for left-sided midfielder over Pienaar. That many young players are available now around the world almost begging for a career in the EPL.

For the money I'm talking about saving, we could have brought in Besic and Del Boy plus had change. If we were a much richer club, I'd be more inclined to show players more loyalty but we're in a cut throat industry and for me we're in rapid decline.

We have a load of old injury-prone players, an old ground creating limited income, plus a pretty measly deals with Kitbag, Umbro and Chang. We have to claw back finances from somewhere.


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