Leighton Baines is nearing a return to full fitness and could feature in Everton's next league game, according to his manager Roberto Martinez.
The England international missed Everton’s 4-0 FA Cup Third-Round victory over Queens Park Rangers at the weekend due to a back spasm.
Baines had only just returned from a month on the sidelines with a broken toe and had featured in two of the Toffees’ Premier League fixtures over the festive season – a 2-1 victory over Southampton and a 1-1 draw at Stoke City.
However, his manager said that the latest injury was not serious and he expects his first choice left-back to be back in action shortly.
"Leighton Baines is recovering as we expected so I don't think he's going to be too far from being able to train," he said.
Fact file
- Born: 11 December 1984
- Place of birth: Kirkby, Merseyside
- International appearances: 22
- England debut: v Egypt (3 March 2010)
In what has been a week of bad news for the Three Lions on the injury front, with the confirmation on Monday that Theo Walcott will be out for six months and will miss the World Cup, word of Baines’ return to full fitness will be welcomed by England manager Roy Hodgson.
Martinez did, however, air on the side of caution given the nature of Baines' most recent injury.
"I would say Leighton will be back in training on Thursday. We'll then have to assess him,” Martinez added.
"Back spasms can be cleared completely or they can leave you a little bit with a lack of mobility.
“Any player needs to be 100 per cent to be able to play and to be considered to play, so we'll assess Leighton on Thursday, see how he is and take it from there."
Martinez also had an update on the hamstring injury sustained by Baines' England and Everton colleague Phil Jagielka and confirmed it would keep him out for another fortnight.
He said the 31-year-old has got a period of between seven and 10 days left of his recover. “ I would say two weeks is the most realistic time," he added.
