Leighton Baines eager to impress at Everton now Sam Allardyce is in charge

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Leighton Baines is due to return to Everton training in the next fortnight.

Leighton Baines has told the Liverpool Echo that he is desperate to train under Sam Allardyce at Everton for the first time.

Baines has had another frustrating season, with injury curtailing his chances at Goodison Park.

The veteran defender has been kept out since November with a calf problem, and has not yet been able to show Allardyce what he can do.

However, Baines is starting to edge closer to fitness, and should return to Everton training in the next fortnight.

And Baines said: “There is a new manager to impress and I haven’t had the opportunity to train under him or be a part of that at all since he came in so it’s always nice in some respects that you’ve got that little bit more to prove that he doesn’t know you.

“Hopefully I can get back into training and when I do get back I’ll be in reasonable enough shape to do myself justice.”

Baines’ return will be a major boost for Everton, as they have struggled at left-back all season.

Although the 33-year-old has started to show signs of age when he has played this term, he simply has to be an upgrade on Cuco Martina.

Martina has regularly started on the left hand side of Everton’s defence, but he has never looked comfortable.

The Toffees really need to solidify their defence in the coming weeks, as they were beaten 5-1 by Arsenal in their last outing.