England could face a left-back shortage for next month’s matches against the Republic of Ireland and Slovenia, with Leighton Baines potentially requiring surgery on a persistent ankle problem.
The Everton defender has suffered pain in an ankle for several weeks and aggravated the injury during Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat by Sunderland. He will discover whether an operation is necessary this week, with Everton keen to resolve the problem in readiness for the start of next season.
Baines would miss the friendly in Dublin on 7 June plus the European Championship qualifier in Slovenia the following week should a specialist propose surgery and an end to his Premier League season. With Luke Shaw likely to be included in Gareth Southgate’s plans for England’s involvement in the European Under-21 Championship this summer, the absence of the Manchester United full-back and Baines would reduce Roy Hodgson’s options to Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand and Arsenal’s Kieran Gibbs for the international double-header.
Roberto Martínez, the Everton manager, has not categorically ruled out Baines from his side’s visit to West Ham United on Saturday but admits the club need a long-term solution to the problem. Surgery now would improve the 30-year-old’s prospects of being available for pre-season training and fit for the new league campaign from 8 August.
“It’s a situation where we need to find out exactly what’s causing the pain,” said Martínez. “We want to find the solution so that Leighton can be pain-free because it seems like it’s a problem that’s been developing over a couple of weeks now and we need to put it right. He’ll see the specialist this week and we’ll make sure that before Friday we know if he’s going to be available for the squad against West Ham or not.”
Luke Garbutt will replace Baines in his likely absence but the England Under-21 international remains on course to leave Goodison Park this summer having failed to agree a new contract.
