Roberto Martinez: 'Ross Barkley must wait for return'

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has insisted that midfielder Ross Barkley won't be ready for a first-team return after the international break.

Barkley is said to be ahead of schedule as he continues to recover from a knee injury, but Martinez has ruled out the possibility of the 20-year-old making a surprise appearance in two weeks' time.

The 41-year-old told reporters: "After the international break will still be too soon for Ross Barkley to be match fit.

"He will still have some work to do with us first before he is ready."

The England international has recently been linked with a big-money move to either Chelsea or Manchester City.