Darron Gibson is glad both Arouna Kone and Leon Osman were able to play in Everton’s midweek defeat against Stoke City.
Darron Gibson has told Everton’s official site that Leon Osman and Arouna Kone returning to fitness is good news for the club in what has been a bleak period.
The Toffees have somehow stumbled into a relegation fight after enduring a terrible season and the mood around Goodison Park is threatening to turn toxic.
There is a serious amount of frustration swirling around the Merseyside outfit, with manager Roberto Martinez coming under huge pressure, but Gibson has found some cause for optimism.
“Both of them [Osman and Kone] really made an impact when they came on [against Stoke City in midweek],” he said. “They held the ball up well when it went forward and caused some problems so it’s a good sign that they’re both back and fit.”
Kone is slowly making his comeback to full health after suffering a lengthy injury back in 2013, while Osman is returning from a foot complaint.
The pair offer Martinez more attacking options to choose from and that could be crucial as the season reaches crunch-time.
At the moment Everton are six points above the drop-zone, but their form means that their safety is far from secure.
The Toffees have looked out of sorts throughout the season and have struggled to put together a solid run of results.
It has put them in real trouble and although they should have too much quality to go down, there is a realisation that their standards will have to be increased considerably if they are to avoid falling into the bottom three.
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