Sunday 21 September 2014 15:48, UK
Everton duo Samuel Eto’o and Sylvain Distin are on course to be fit for the Europa League opener against Wolfsburg at Goodison Park on Thursday.
Striker Eto’o missed Saturday’s 2-0 win at West Brom with a groin problem, while centre-back Distin failed to make the Hawthorns clash due to a dead leg.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez told his club’s official website: “Samuel Eto’o and Sylvain Distin will be back for Thursday plus the 18 players we had on Saturday, plus Tyias Browning.”
The Group H game against the German side comes too soon for Bryan Oviedo and Arouna Kone but the pair are making good progress from long-term injuries and played for the U21 side in a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Finch Farm on Sunday.
Tony Hibbert is also close to a comeback after being absent since the start of the season and the Capital One Cup clash with Swansea next week has been pencilled in for the full-back.
Martinez added: “Bryan Oviedo and Arouna Kone will be fully fit very soon and Tony Hibbert will be back for the game a week on Tuesday.
“The numbers are there, the experience is there, the legs are there and the balance is strong enough to go and face every game we have in front of us.”
