Roberto Martínez has said he will not risk John Stones’ fitness against West Bromwich Albion on Monday after the Everton defender suffered a medial knee ligament strain in the Capital One Cup win at Reading.
Stones was substituted in the second half of Everton’s 2-1 victory at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday with a knee problem and, though he has responded well to treatment, is doubtful for the trip to The Hawthorns.
Everton have not conceded a goal away from home in the Premier League this season but their manager will break the central defensive partnership of Stones and Phil Jagielka unless the former has made a full recovery.
Martínez said: “John was very unfortunate because he just kicked the air, it was a really strange action, and he just opened his knee up a bit in the medial area and strained the medial ligament. He was okay to carry on at half-time but when he went back out he could still feel it and we didn’t want to take any risks. I feel that he could easily be ready for Monday but we won’t risk him if he’s not 100% because there are many games to come. There’s no point risking him.”
Ramiro Funes Mori, Everton’s £9.5m summer signing from River Plate, will make his first Premier League start should Stones miss Monday’s game. Seamus Coleman is also doubtful having resumed only light training following a hamstring injury.
“Ramiro has adapted quicker than I expected,” added the Everton manager. “It’s not the same defending in a South American team as the way we do it in Europe, where the physicality and the tempo is different, but the way he coped when he came on against Chelsea was exceptional. It gives you a great balance having a left-footed centre-back. It’s just a matter now of working as a back four and developing an understanding with Jags and John and the other players around him, but I feel that he is ready.”
