Football
Mike Whalley 9y

Everton's Muhamed Besic to miss start of season with injured hamstring

Everton midfielder Muhamed Besic will miss the start of the Premier League season with a hamstring injury.

The Bosnia international, 22, suffered the problem during the Toffees' 4-0 preseason win at Swindon on July 11.

The setback means he will be unavailable for his side's opening league match at home to Watford on Aug. 8.

He joins midfielder Steven Pienaar, who will also miss the match with a hamstring problem.

But manager Roberto Martinez indicated Besic could be ready for their next two matches, at Southampton seven days later and at home to Manchester City on Aug. 23.

Martinez told Everton's website: "Mo picked up the injury against Swindon in the first game and is recovering really, really well.

"He is a player with a lot of power and a player who I expect to be fit just after the start of the campaign.

"I think he will miss the opening game but after that he will be close to a return."

Martinez is also hopeful winger Aiden McGeady and midfielder Darron Gibson will return from injury by the end of August.

McGeady has missed the whole of preseason after aggravating a hamstring injury while on international duty with the Republic of Ireland in June.

Gibson, meanwhile, has not played since breaking a bone in his foot during a training session in April.

Martinez said: "Aiden was carrying the little hamstring problem that affected him from the international game and he's been carrying that niggle for a while.

"He has had a good week while we've been in Scotland and he's getting to the root of the problem.

"We are quite confident that in the next two to three weeks he will show a good reaction to the treatment he's been having.

"Those players, plus Darron Gibson have progressed well and I think they will be there or thereabouts by the end of August."

Long-serving right-back Tony Hibbert, though, is facing several weeks out with the knee injury suffered during the 3-1 Asia Trophy defeat against Arsenal in Singapore on July 18.

"He will be out a little bit longer," Martinez said. "I think we will have a better idea once the season gets under way. Tony will probably be out for a few weeks still."

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