LONDON: Everton defender Leighton Baines faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after injuring his ankle in training, the club's manager Roberto Martinez revealed on Saturday.
Baines suffered the problem on the eve of the new Premier League season and Martinez confirmed the England left-back would miss Saturday's opening-day clash with Watford and is unlikely to return for several weeks.
The 30-year-old's knock is on the same ankle that needed surgery in May, a procedure which forced Baines to miss the final two matches of last season.
"With Leighton, it was a very, very unfortunate block in training, where the ball hit his ankle that he had a little bit of trouble with in the later stages of last season," Martinez told Everton's website.
"It's really sad and disappointing because Leighton came back probably stronger than ever and this pre-season he showed fantastic signs. So, to lose him in the week that you're preparing to start the season is very disappointing.
"We're just hoping we can get him back quicker than we fear because the injury looks very similar to what he had before."
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