Manager Roberto Martinez is delighted to be able to welcome injury-jinxed Bryan Oviedo back to his Everton starting line-up for the trip to Barnsley in the second round of the Capital One Cup.
The 25-year-old Costa Rica international has been plagued by injuries over the last 18 months, starting with a double leg fracture in January 2014, which forced him to miss the World Cup finals that summer.
Hamstring and foot injuries have also hampered defender Oviedo in the past few months, but he is poised to start at Oakwell having featured as a substitute in the 2-2 Premier League draw with Watford earlier this month.
Martinez confirmed: “Bryan will start. He has been really unfortunate over the last year or so, but he’s been working really well in pre-season.
“We are all very excited to see him enjoying his football again. We know how difficult it has been for him to miss out on the World Cup and some important games.
“You just feel sometimes as a footballer you need to hit rock-bottom in order to look up and start building your own potential and I think Bryan is fully refreshed and desperate to be on the pitch.”
Meanwhile, defender Seamus Coleman believes that the Toffees should be looking to make progress in the League Cup, as he looks to challenge for silverware this season.
He told the club’s official website: “I think every year since I’ve been here I’ve spoken about how much I want to win a trophy with Everton.”
Everton are 2.52 to win at Oakwell and are 2.30 to keep a clean sheet.
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