Everton hero Ian Snodin has defended midfielder Darron Gibson.

Gibson is out for the season with a foot injury.

Snodin wrote in the Liverpool Echo: "Darron has been so unfortunate with injuries and he has no doubt been working extra hard in the gym over these past few months to get himself fit again.

"After some major knee problems, Darron was fully fit again and of late had been looking a different class, so this latest set-back is really cruel.

"Darron has suffered with some horrible injuries in his career but I hate the phrase 'injury prone'.

"People said it about me but all I suffered were genuine injuries and because I know how that made me feel, I don't like hearing it said about Darron.

"Being in the treatment room and working on your own rehab is a lonely place, I've been there so I hope Darron has a speedy recovery."