Phil Jagielka on verge of Everton return

By Pascal Lemesre, Football League Editor | 31 December 2015

Roberto Martinez confirms that Phil Jagielka will make his return from a knee ligament injury in one of Everton's next three matches.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has confirmed that Phil Jagielka will make his return from injury in one of the Toffees' next three matches.

The England centre-back has been out for the last nine weeks with knee ligament damage suffered against Arsenal in October.

Martinez told reporters that Jagielka was back in full training and just needed to build up his match fitness.

"The next three days are very important for Phil Jagielka," said Martinez.

"I think the weekend could be a bit too early but we've got the next three games. He will be involved - if it's not the Spurs game or the Man City game in the [Capital One] Cup, it will be in the FA Cup third round [against Dagenham & Redbridge]. I would say in the next seven to 10 days.

"We need to make sure he gets to the final stage of his preparation. Medically he's got the green light, now it's making sure he gets a good programme to get him match fit."

Everton have kept clean sheets in just two of their nine Premier League matches in Jagielka's absence, conceding seven goals in their last two home games against Leicester City and Stoke City.