Everton manager Roberto Martinez has insisted that he will not rush Leighton Baines back into the team after he came through 90 minutes in a friendly.
The England international has not played competitively for Everton this season having had two separate ankle operations six months ago.
Last week, the 30-year-old scored in a behind-closed-doors friendly win over Preston North End.
"With Leighton, it is day by day," Martinez told the Liverpool Echo. "He has enjoyed a really successful period but he needs to get his confidence back and it is about finding that match tempo.
"The game behind-closed-doors was a real success. He played for 90 minutes at a really good tempo in everything he did, but we won't put pressure on Leighton and won't be throwing him in."
Everton will host Aston Villa at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Written by
Danielle Joynson
Danielle Joynson
