Tom Cleverley closing on Everton return ahead of Arsenal clash
Friday 23 October 2015 11:45, UK
Tom Cleverley is in contention to make his first-team return when Everton visit Arsenal on Saturday Night Football.
The midfielder played 60 minutes of an U21 game on Tuesday after recovering from an ankle injury that has ruled him out since August and his fitness provides a boost for manager Roberto Martinez, whose squad is close to full-strength ahead of the trip to north London.
"It is just a case of seeing how he reacts from the game on Tuesday," said Martinez of Cleverley's availability. "The next two sessions are going to be very important to measure that.
"I would say, from a medical point of view, 100 per cent he will be ready, but it is just trying to guess and work on his match fitness more than anything."
Winger Steven Pienaar - yet to feature for the first team this term due to a hamstring problem - also played the opening half of Tuesday's contest, while full-back Bryan Oviedo completed the match in his bid to build up his fitness.
Martinez added: "It was a very significant boost to see Steven Pienaar completing the 45 minutes, which was the plan, Tom Cleverley extend to 60 minutes and Bryan Oviedo play 90 minutes.
"It has been great to see them coming back so sharp and ready to add to the squad.
"That is very good news, and we are also seeing Leighton Baines progressing well with Muhamed Besic, Tony Hibbert and Aiden McGeady. We are very close to having a full squad."
Live Ford Saturday Night Football
Martinez does not expect Arsenal to be hampered by a Champions League "hangover" following their 2-0 win over Bayern Munich on Tuesday evening.
"I wouldn't say a team as experienced as Arsenal will suffer a hangover," he said. "When you play two games in a week, you hope it will allow us to be fresh but I don't expect it to have a negative effect on Arsenal.
"They have a big enough squad to find fresh legs."
Everton, themselves, are looking to bounce back from last weekend's 3-0 home defeat to Manchester United.
Martinez said: "It was a really bad day for us. It was one of those results you could not see coming or expect.
"We want to be back to reaching our level, the level we showed consistently this season - and we will have to do it at one of the hardest arenas in the league and against one of the hardest oppositions."
