Everton and England midfielder Ross Barkley looks set to be out for up to six weeks after breaking a bone in his foot during the FA Cup third-round win over Queens Park Rangers
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The 20-year-old injured his toe during the 4-0 victory and missed last Saturday’s game against Norwich with fears that he could miss key fixtures against Liverpool and Tottenham over the forthcoming weeks.
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The Toffees confirmed the injury was only a fractured toe – not a broken metatarsal – so there is a slight possibility that he could be in contention for a return in two weeks for the Merseyside derby at Anfield on January 28.
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Barkley, who has been in scintillating form this season, travelled with his Everton teammates to Tenerife for some warm-weather training ahead of next Monday’s League game against West Bromwich Albion.
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He took part in some light exercise before relaxing in the pool as his fellow squad members settled into the 3T (Tops Training Tenerife) Sports Centre in La Caleta – previously where Manchester City have trained. Everton manager Roberto Martinez was quoted by the Daily Mirror: “Knowing Ross, being a young man, hopefully with the sun – a bit of Vitamin D intake – it will accelerate the healing process.
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“It is a blow but in the same way, at such a young age, we’re going to use this as a perfect rest for him to come back and be as strong and as sharp as he can be in the second half of the season.”
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It’s the second-time this season Everton have had to deal with a toe injury setback with left-back Leighton Baines fracturing his toe when they met Liverpool at Goodison Park in late November which lead to a spell of six games on the sidelines.
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