Leighton Baines has likened Everton's fit-again Stephen Pienaar to Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.

Pienaar's spell on the sidelines saw the Blues win just two of a possible ten games.

Since his return though Everton have secured a place in the final 32 of the Europa League, booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup and begun to progress back up the Premier League table.

"Steven Pienaar is a great player. He is to us what Fabregas is to Arsenal," Baines told evertonTV.

"He is one of our big players who takes the ball and makes things happen. He is a massive outlet for us and him coming back into the side has seen us return to form and I don't think that is a coincidence."