Everton defender Leighton Baines backed to make season opener

Everton boss Roberto Martinez is confident Leighton Baines will be fit for the start of the Premier League campaign despite missing the club’s pre-season tour with an ankle injury.

The left-back has been sidelined with the problem since the end of the 2014/15 campaign, missing the Toffees’ final two matches after undergoing an operation.

The injury also kept the 30-year-old out of England’s internationals with the Republic of Ireland and Slovenia in June, and his recovery has taken longer than expected, with Everton were forced to leave him behind for their pre-season tour of Singapore.

Despite missing a large chunk of the Merseyside outfit’s build-up to the new campaign, Martinez remains confident he will be able to call upon Baines when the Premier League season kicks-off against Watford on August 8.

“Leighton is well ahead of where we expected him to be. I expect him to be able to start the campaign fully fit,” said Martinez.

“I think the first week in August is a realistic target for Leighton and I would say the same for Brian Oviedo. Both have been progressing really well and I do expect Leighton to be fully fit for the start of the campaign.”

The recovery of Baines has prompted Martinez to take the decision to send promising left-back Luke Garbutt out on loan for the season.

The England Under-21 international signed a new five-year deal at Goodison Park earlier in the summer and is tipped to have a big future at the club.

Martinez wants Garbutt to gain more first-team experience and he has previously been linked with a temporary switch to Premier League new boys Bournemouth.

Martinez said: “He’s got a terrific future. He’s been playing for the England U21s, he’s got the best left-back possible to learn from in the shape of Leighton.

“So this pre-season will tell us a lot about him but the idea will be for him to go out on loan and gain more experience. It was an important decision for him to stay at Everton as he feels he can fully develop his potential here.”

Everton can be backed at 12/1 to finish in the top four this season, while they are 33/1 to end the campaign as the top club in the north-west of England.