Soccer

Leighton Baines injury not as serious as first feared but Gibbs in line to face Slovenia

After Baines’s withdrawal from the England squad Kieran Gibbs is now the only available left back in the 23-man matchday squad

Everton had feared Leighton Baines would definitely miss next weekend’s match against West Ham. Photograph: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images
Everton had feared Leighton Baines would definitely miss next weekend’s match against West Ham. Photograph: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images
Sat Nov 15 2014 - 15:27

Everton have been given a boost with news that the injury to their England defender Leighton Baines is not as serious as first feared.

The Premier League club, which had feared Baines would definitely miss next weekend’s match against West Ham because of a hamstring injury picked up on international duty, reported today that he could now be in contention to play.

Baines was forced to withdraw from England’s squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Slovenia at Wembley this afternoon and the friendly against Scotland at Celtic Park on Tuesday because of a hamstring injury suffered during England training.

He returned to Everton’s Finch Farm training ground where scans revealed he had suffered a ‘grade one’ problem, the least serious of hamstring injuries.

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“Leighton Baines could be in contention to face West Ham United next weekend after scans revealed the full-back’s hamstring injury is not as serious as first feared,” the statement on Everton’s official website reported.

Gibbs to get the nod for England

Initially Baines had been joined by Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs and Manchester United's left back Luke Shaw in Roy Hodgson's 26-man party for the upcoming Slovenia and Scotland games.

Although under a new Ueafa rule which requires a shortened 23-man squad to be submitted a day prior to European Championship qualifying games, only Baines and Gibbs were selected for this evening’s encounter. So with Shaw now out of the mix, Gibbs is set to start the game as the only available left back.