Baines ruled out for 3 months

Fitness is now an issue for Everton with left-back Leighton Baines ruled out for three months after an ankle injury.

Baines, 30, was forced to undergo surgery on an ankle problem he picked up in training prior to the start of the Premier League and will now miss the next 12 to 14 weeks.

There was better news for Everton with Baines’ fellow left-back Luke Garbutt not requiring surgery after damaging ankle ligaments.

Baines’s worst fears were confirmed by a specialist on Thursday and he immediately underwent surgery that has been deemed a success.

It will mean that Baines has effectively been out for six months, while he will also miss England’s Euro 2016 qualifying games against San Marino, Switzerland, Estonia, Lithuania and the Wembley friendly with tournament hosts France. It is encouraging because you could see that we fought from the first minute to the last, especially playing against a good time like Everton, and a point we can be happy with.

Martinez, meanwhile, has completed the signing of Barnsley defender Mason Holgate, 18, for £1m. The 18-year-old follows the same route taken by John Stones into the Premier League but Martínez, who has reiterated that the Chelsea-target is not for sale, admits his new defender is not under pressure to make an immediate impact.

Super Eagles forward, Odion Ighalo has spoken about his joy of scoring his first Premier League goal and hopes it is the beginning of great things for him and Watford. “He has been very impressive and is someone who can play in that position for us for a long time”.