Everton manager Roberto Martinez insists John Stones will not be
rushed back from injury, with the defender set for a January return.
Stones
is on the road to recovery after undergoing surgery for ankle ligament
damage sustained in Everton's 2-1 loss at Manchester United last month.
The 20-year-old English centre-back is progressing well and there are
some suggestions that he may return ahead of schedule, but Martinez
dismissed talk of a comeback before the New Year.
"The surgeon and the specialist have been very, very pleased. I think
they've been quite surprised how quickly he is recovering," said the
Spaniard.
"We need to be careful, though. The second half of the season is
going to be really demanding and we want John to be fully fit and ready
to cope with that.
"What we don't want is for him to come back for one game and then get
in a position where his ankle isn't fully recovered and he needs more
recovery time.
"He's doing well, though. He's walking around [Everton's training
base] Finch Farm with no protection. He's ready to step up his
individual programme and it's exciting for the turn of the year to see
when he'll be ready.
"We don't know the date at the moment but I'd say sometime in January he'll be able to join the group which is incredible news."
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