Return date pencilled in for Stubbs

Everton centre-back Alan Stubbs may return to action against Middlesbrough on October 14 following his freak knee injury.

Stubbs, who turns 35 on Friday, was injured in a training ground collision with team-mate Mikel Arteta last month.

He suffered medial knee ligament damage but told evertonTV: “I am hoping to be training next Monday or Tuesday. It (the recovery time) has been a bit longer than we thought it was going to be.”

Stubbs added: “It is quite an awkward injury. It is one of those where you can’t rush it. It is getting better now, though.”