Toffees upbeat over Arteta

Everton are confident Mikel Arteta will be fit for the start of pre-season training after the Spanish midfielder had surgery to cure a long-running stomach problem.

Arteta was ruled out for the rest of the season last month after being told he required surgery to correct an injury that had dogged him since before Christmas.

But Toffees head physio Mick Rathbone expects the Spaniard to return in time for pre-season training with the rest of the squad in July.

"Mikel, in Barcelona, yesterday had a minor bit of surgery to release some of the tension around the muscles," he told evertonTV.

"Hopefully that will cure it and he will be fit for the start of pre-season.

"One of our medical staff was present and I am going over tomorrow to see him."

Arteta made 37 appearances for the Toffees this season and Rathbone has revealed the extent to which the midfielder was troubled by the problem.

"To be fair to Mikel, he has had the problem since before Christmas and he has managed to play most of the games," he continued.

"He has done everything he can to play for Everton.

"Unfortunately the specialist in Spain hasn't been able to solve it so he has had the surgical procedure and hopefully that will be the end of it."