Following the earlier news on Tim Cahill, Everton’s medical staff have kindly given us a progress report on the likes of Stephen Pienarr, Tony Hibbert and Leon Osman. The news is mixed.

While Pienarr and Hibbert have returned to light training and are just “weeks away” from a return to action, Osman’s knee injury sustained against Portsmouth is set to keep him out of the trip to Stoke this weekend. Indeed, Everton’s physio is very sketchy with his assessment of the injury.

“He is making reasonable progress but it is too soon to say in terms of a return date,” remarked Head Physio Mick Rathbone.

Osman’s absence at Stoke is likely to see Moyes continue with Vaughan up front alongside Yakubu, while Baines may be pushed forward into a wide left role with Valente coming in a left-back. Baxter is another option. Pienarr and Hibbert meanwhile, like Cahill, are likely to have targeted the Merseyside derby on September 27 as a possible target return date.