Phil Jagielka admits it will be strange not to line up alongside Leighton Baines for Everton on Saturday.
The duo have been mainstays in the Toffees defence for several seasons but, after making 51 successive top-flight appearances, Baines is now set to spend time on the sidelines as he recovers from a fractured toe.
Two years ago Jagielka suffered a similar injury but was able to continue playing, but scans have shown that Baines’ fracture is more severe than that of the Everton skipper.
But despite this, Jagielka is hopeful that his England colleague’s time on the treatment table will only be minimal.
He said: “Bainesy has probably missed three or four games with a slight hamstring strain over the last five years and the left-back slot has always been done blindfolded when the manager has come to write the team sheet.
Baines limped off during last Saturday's Merseyside derby
“I’ve spoken to him and he is hobbling around a little bit now. I saw at half-time [against Liverpool] that he was struggling to put his boot on.
“I’ve broken a little toe myself and it is painful but unfortunately he has broken one in the middle so it's in more of an awkward place.
Speaking to Everton’s official website, Jagielka added: “There’s a possibility that once he goes for another X-ray after the swelling has gone down that it won’t be as bad but, as a rule of thumb, bones take a little while to mend.
“Whether he can mask the pain and get through it while the bone heals, we will have to wait and see. He will be a big miss but it gives opportunities to other players in the squad to stake their claim.”
Roberto Martinez explained on Tuesday that Baines could be out for up to six weeks, dependant on the severity of the fractured bone in his toe.
