Gueye back but Keane still out for the Blues

Everton travel to the capital today to take on Tottenham Hotspur with the news from the injury front looking more positive than it has any other time this season.

The biggest news is that Sam Allardyce confirmed that Seamus Coleman has returned to training with the squad. The manager has a training plan in place for the Irishman as he gets him up to match fitness, but did not mention when he expected to see Coleman back on the pitch.

“Seamus is still a considerable way away at the moment because of his long-standing injury. He has been introduced to training with the first-team squad now and we monitor him on a daily basis, not just the area around the injury but his whole body.

“Seamus has to get match fitness as quickly as he can, and that will give him a better chance in full-time training with the players. We will set up a few behind-closed-doors games to let him play in, then introduce him back to the squad and continue to monitor him daily to see how he feels.

“I think if I asked him today if he would join the squad to play against Tottenham, he would say, ‘Yes – I’m fit enough’. But obviously we have got a few more indicators to monitor to ensure that when he does come back, his body is ready to cope with the physical challenge he has missed for so long.”

In addition Idrissa Gueye has fully recovered from his ailment and will be available today. Defender Michael Keane, under fire for some lacklustre performances recently, is still out after reopening a cut on his foot from earlier in the season. Leighton Baines is also some ways away from a return according to the manager.

For Spurs, Harry Winks, Toby Alderwiereld and Danny Rose are confirmed out for the Toffees’ visit. Midfielder Victor Wanyama is fit again and is expected to start in the middle of the pitch.