Toffees' 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the weekend,
while ex-Blues striker Romelu Lukaku is likely to
be fit to face his former club
Steven Pienaar has been ruled out of Everton's
clash with Chelsea on Saturday but Romelu
Lukaku could be fit to face his former club.
Both players limped off in
Saturday's 2-2 draw with
Arsenal at Goodison Park,
as Pienaar was replaced by
Leon Osman after just 10
minutes with a groin
complaint while Lukaku
lasted 76 minutes before
coming off with a toe
problem.
Jose Mourinho's Chelsea
visit Merseyside next
weekend and Everton
manager Roberto Martinez has confirmed that
midfielder Pienaar will definitely sit the clash out,
but the Spaniard was more hopeful on striker
Lukaku - who joined from Chelsea in a club-
record £28 million deal in the close-season.
"They have both been assessed," Martinez said on
Tuesday. "Stevie P [Pienaar] is going to miss the
game at the weekend. He is the one that is going
to take a little bit of time.
"Stevie is going to be out and he is going to join
Arouna Kone and Bryan Oviedo who are the only
other two players that are not available.
"Romelu, we will keep assessing him. He has
reacted well in the 48 hours after the game.
"At the moment it is too early to know if he will be
available at the weekend but I am quite positive
with Rom."
One player who will compete for a place is
midfielder Darron Gibson, who has not played a
competitive match since damaging his cruciate
knee ligament playing for the Republic of Ireland
last October.
The 26-year-old was used sparingly during pre-
season, but the ex-Manchester United man is in
contention for Saturday.
"Darron Gibson is fully fit and I consider him part
of the squad," Martinez continued. "He will be
ready from now on to join the group and compete for a place
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