We’ve already heard once from Everton physio Mick Rathbone today and this evening he’s made another appearance, this time bringing us the news that Mikel Arteta is just a few weeks from a return to action.

Arteta is recovering from a ruptured cruciate ligament and has been absent for just over seven months following an operation. However, the Spaniard is now closing in on a return and, according to Rathbone, is set to be back in contention by the end of October.

We have to take it on the chin and support Mikel but we are talking about a return to action for him in weeks not months.”

His return to fitness will add to the options available to David Moyes, which, to be honest, is not great news for fantasy managers. Already we have Cahill and Fellaini vying for starts in the central midfield, while Neville (when fit) and Rodwell appear to be fighting over the holding role position alongside them. The likes of Pienaar, Osman, Bilyaletdinov are competing for the wide roles and if Moyes looks to accomodate Yakubu alongside Saha or Jo, we could see places in Everton’s midfield cut to just four…

My bet is that Arteta will take up a central midfield position, with Pienaar on the right and Bilyaletdinov taking the left flank. Cahill, Fellaini and Osman will then rotate with Neville presumably, as skipper, taking the holding midfield role. It’s all a cloud of uncertainty then, although if Arteta can recover his fitness and form, there’s little doubt that he will be a prize mid-price midfield asset. As a side note, Baines’ potential as a contributor from set-pieces will take a major hit on Arteta’s return. He looks likely to be under both Bilyaletdinov and Arteta once they are established in the side, with the latter likely to return to spot-kick duties.