Barkley injury rocks Toffees

Everton face an anxious wait to discover the extent of a knee injury sustained by Ross Barkley in training.

The England midfielder received a knock yesterday when preparing for the Premier League opener at Leicester today.

Barkley will undergo a scan in the next couple of days to assess the damage.

He was a key player for manager Roberto Martinez last season and earned a place at the World Cup with England on the back of his club performances.

However, the 20-year-old could be facing several weeks out and that would be a significant blow to Everton.

It has been reported that he could miss between six and eight weeks, meaning he could be out until the middle of October, missing Everton’s opening seven fixtures of the season in the process.

Barkley made 34 league appearances in the league in a breakthrough 2013-14 season, scoring six goals, with his performances earning rave reviews. An academy graduate, Barkley had been linked with a move away, with Manchester City and Chelsea rumoured to be interested in the youngster, but he outlined his commitment last month by signing a new four-year contract to remain at Goodison Park.

Expectations are high at Everton but boss Roberto Martinez admits this campaign may be a one of adjustment, balancing European football demands for the first time since 2010. “We have to maintain the level we showed last season with the extra demand of European football,” he said. “It is making sure when the Europa League comes in, we embrace it and don’t find it an obstacle to perform well in the domestic league.”