Injured Everton defender Leighton Baines is hoping to return from a broken toe and play some part in the busy festive schedule. "The manager said early on it's quite a broad timeframe that you can be looking at," he said.
"We thought about different things, injections and stuff , but we didn't know whether that would set me back further so we are just trying to let it heal naturally at the moment.
"Obviously the schedule thickens up around Christmas and New Year so you like to think you would be back and available to help the team at that point, but it's just one of those things. You have to wait and see.
"I've not been able to do a lot to treat it because it's a break, so I've just sort of tried to see how it heals really and take it a day at a time.
"It's been pretty dull because you can't do a lot. There isn't that much treatment so it's just been a case of coming in and doing little bits of work in the gym and just hoping it recovers."
"I have found it really difficult not being involved," he told evertontv.
"You do miss it but I have been quite lucky the last few seasons with injuries. I am trying to use the time as best I can."
