Following Everton’s 2-2 draw at Leicester City on the opening day of the Premier League season, Toffees boss Roberto Martinez was hounded in the post match press conference.
Not because Everton threw away three points later on, but journalists wanted an update on Ross Barkley’s knee injury. The England international, just 20, was hurt in practice on the eve of the new PL season and the extent of the damage done is not yet known.
[RELATED: Leicester 2-2 Everton]
However, in his press conference Martinez did confirm that Barkely’s injury is serious and according to journalists at the King Power Stadium the powerful midfielder could miss ‘anything from seven weeks to four or months’ in what would be a damaging blow to Everton’s top four hopes.
Martinez also confirmed it is an injury to Barkley’s MCL in his right knee and the club have since Tweeted out the following message as they wait to see results of a scan Barkley had on the injury.
Everton’s manager didn’t seem too hopeful that Barkley will be back anytime soon.
The Toffees certainly didn’t miss Barkley going forward against Leicester as both Aiden McGeady and Steven Naismith stepped up to the plate in his absence by scoring superb goals. However with Everton set to embark on their Europa League campaign in the next few weeks and their squad already paper thin as it is, losing one of their main attacking talents isn’t ideal. Not at all.
Sloppy defending cost Martinez’s side all three points away at Leicester on Saturday, but he has bigger problems right now as the anxious wait to find out the extent of Barkley’s knee injury continues.