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.
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