Ross Barkley Could Return Sooner Than Expected After Everton Star Reacts Well to Knee Treatment

Ross Barkley could return sooner than expected after reacting well to treatment on his injured knee.

The Everton midfielder sustained a medial ligament injury ahead of Everton's 2-2 draw against Leicester.

Early reports claimed the England international could be out for as long as five months but Toffees boss Roberto Martinez has dismissed that prognosis, adding the 20-year-old could return after just two months.

"His knee has reacted really well to treatment," the Everton manager told the club's official website.

"I don't know where the figure of five months [in the papers] came from but obviously the extent of the injury is a little unsure at the moment because we don't know how the next two weeks are going to develop.

"It's a medial ligament injury and we know that Ross, in terms of the power and the strength that he has in his body, could easily react to treatment a lot better than other players.

"The length that Ross will be out is a little uncertain at the moment and it could be anything between the eight weeks that we mentioned or a little further. Until the end of the week, or probably the next 10 days, we won't know how the knee is progressing and how quickly Ross can be back."

Martinez said Barkley will be closely monitored by club doctors and was wearing a knee brace to help his rehabilitation.

He will be assessed within the next few days but Everton will have to wait at least another week before understanding the full extent of the injury.

Meanwhile, Martinez said Darron Gibson was still recovering from injury but was making progress, while full-back and key man Seamus Coleman was back to full fitness and ready to start games.

Arouna Kone and Bryan Oviedo, however, remain sidelined.