Everton defender Leighton Baines has been ruled out of the club’s pre-season tour to Singapore as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.

The left-back had surgery on the problem in May and missed the Merseyside club’s final two league games of the campaign as well as England’s two international matches against the Republic of Ireland and Slovenia.

Toffees boss Roberto Martinez confirmed prior to the surgery that the problem had been bothering the 30-year-old for three seasons and he will now concentrate on his rehabilitation process while the squad continue their pre-season preparations in the Far East.

Fellow full-back Bryan Oviedo and midfielder Darron Gibson will also miss the trip to Asia as they continue their own recovery from respective toe and foot injuries with the club confirming the trio’s absence via a statement on their official website.

It read: “Leighton Baines, Darron Gibson and Bryan Oviedo are missing from the squad (for Singapore), with the trio recovering from injuries which saw them miss the end of the 2014/15 campaign.”

New signings Tom Cleverley and Gerard Deulofeu have been included in the 24-man party for the tour where the Merseyside club will participate in the Barclays Asia Trophy.

The Toffees will take on Stoke in their first match of the tour on July 15 before facing either Arsenal or a Singapore Select XI in their second game of the competition just three days later.

Everton will begin their Premier League campaign on August 8 when they take on Watford at Goodison Park and Martinez’s men will go into the contest as 1.70 favourites, the Hornets are available at 5.00 and the draw is on offer at 3.60.