Everton suffer double injury-blow a month before the season starts

Liverpool, July 20: Everton star midfielder Ross Barkley is likely to miss the start of the season after undergoing groin surgery. The 23-year-old has been linked strongly with a move to Tottenham.

The England international, who has one year left on his contract is expected to return in four weeks. However, Barkley's future at Goodison Park remains doubtful with Everton looking for the signature of Gylfi Siggurdson to replace him.

Barkley who missed Everton's trips to Tanzania and the Netherlands, and is expected to be sidelined for four weeks.

The midfielder will miss the club's Europa League third-round qualifier plus the Premier League opener against Stoke City, though whether he would have featured in Ronald Koeman's plans is doubtful given the stand-off over his new contract.

The 23-year-old is wanted by Tottenham Hotspur but not at Everton's £50m asking price, would only be back in action for the final two weeks of the transfer window with a four-week recovery.

A club statement confirmed: “Ross Barkley underwent surgery today on his groin, with the injury having prevented him from travelling with the Everton team last week to Tanzania and this week to Holland."

🔵 | Ross Barkley underwent surgery on his groin earlier today.

More ➡️ https://t.co/lYxuslX5KQ pic.twitter.com/GPGizdOUz2

— Everton (@Everton) July 19, 2017

"The surgery has been a success and he is expected to be able to return to play in approximately four weeks."

Meanwhile, Barkley's team-mate Ramiro Funes Mori, could miss the bulk of the new campaign owing to complications in his recovery from a knee operation.

Reports suggest that the Argentine stopper could face an additional nine months out after the defender had another knee operation. The 26-year-old suffered a torn meniscus while playing for Argentina in March.

Everton's statement added: “Ramiro Funes Mori has had a problem within his knee and has undergone further surgery in Barcelona which will require prolonged rehabilitation of a minimum of six to nine months. The defender tore his meniscus while on duty with Argentina in March."

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