Everton manager Roberto Martinez has admitted that he is unsure whether Steven Pienaar will play again before the end of the season.
Injuries to his knee and groin have prevented Pienaar from playing regularly this season, but Martinez has claimed that he will not take any risks on the South African's fitness with three games remaining in the campaign.
"Stevie is working really hard now to be involved before the season ends but it will be difficult to find out one way or the other," the Spaniard told the club's official website. "We'll monitor his situation and if he's 100% over the next three weeks it will be great to see him on a football pitch.
"If not, we'll make sure he has a good fresh start in pre-season and make sure he's in the best possible shape to have a good campaign.
"It's a period now where we want Stevie to be fit before the end of the season but, in one way or another, he has to be starting pre-season 100%."
Everton currently occupy 11th spot following Saturday's 3-2 loss to Aston Villa.
