New Everton Injury Update On Coleman, McCarthy, Pienaar & Barkley
Everton are having a hard time dealing with injuries to their players. Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy, Steven Pienaar and Ross Barkley are all nursing one degree of injury or the other.
Attacking minded right full back Seamus Coleman will have a late fitness test to determine his fitness ahead of the super Sunday clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford. The 25-year-old has not played in Everton’s last three games after limping off with a hamstring in the Europa League game against Wolfsborg of Germany on September 18.
Everton’s boss however, won’t have any problem asking Tony Hibbert to stand in for the Irish man if he couldn’t make it on time to face United. Roberto Martinez is confident 33-year-old Hibbert won’t let him down against a Manchester United side that boasts the best attacking talents in the league.
Martinez said of Hibbert: “I’d have no concerns about using him at Old Trafford. “For him to be able to play the games he has against different types of opposition, tricky wingers with different ways of playing, he has done very well”.
“That’s why it’s so important this season to have a strong squad. You need reliable characters like him.”
“It’s so important to have someone like Tony around the place. First of all, forget about playing, his influence is huge on the other lads. But then when he’s on the pitch he brings that experience to everything. He’s always ready to perform.”
Hibbert has featured in Everton’s three games against Swansea, Liverpool and FC Krasnodor since Coleman was injured but there have been concern about his age and pattern of play. Martinez was however, quick to dispel those fears.
“The different types of full backs aren’t really important,”
“What matters is that you are good at what you do, and Hibbo is one of the best at what he does. He loves those one versus one situations defensively and he really knows how to be pristine in those actions.
“He has a real good knack of using his experience; a good talker and adaptable. I was pleased to inherit him from day one. He never just loses that
appetite of loving the game. He’s a proper Evertonian.” The Blue manager said.
Meanwhile Steven Pienaar and James McCarthy are touch and go for tomorrow’s game while long term absentee Ross Barkley who has been sidelined since the start of the season is out of Sunday’s clash against Manchester United although the manager believes the English youngster is doing well recuperating.
“Ross Barkley is developing well,” said Martinez “I hope he can join the group as early as next Wednesday and start working with the full team.”
“I think he will be back training with the team after the international break and then we will have to see how long it’ll take Ross to get back to match fitness from then.
“We could get some players back this weekend, James McCarthy and Seamus Coleman will have late fitness tests, so it’s too early to tell on those
two. “But Steven Pienaar has been training really well and I think he probably has got the better chance
of the four players looking ahead to the weekend.”
Everton have not started strongly as they finished last season and this has seen them drop loose points to teams like like Chelsea and Crystal Palace at home this season. They currently sit 15th on the log after picking just six point from a possible eighteen, winning one, drawing three and loosing two of the opening six games. They however, finished 5th after an impressive campaign last season and will look to get their second away win of the season at Old Trafford against a United side who seems to be struggling under new boss Louis Van Gaal.