Ross Barkley Injury: Updates on Everton Star's Leg and Return

Updates from Friday, April 4

Ross Barkley is ready to give Everton a huge boost ahead of their crucial showdown with Arsenal in the hunt for a Champions League spot.

Roberto Martinez revealed the news via Everton's official Twitter:

Updates from Thursday, April 3

Everton will take a late check on Ross Barkley before deciding if he is fit to face Arsenal in Sunday's crucial encounter.

The Daily Star's Chris McKenna quotes Roberto Martinez saying:

"

Over the next three or four days we will have a clearer idea of where he is and we are going to treat every day as it comes.

It is fair to say it is 50-50. We need to make sure we recover him well and I'm confident in two days we will know where we are.

"

Original Text

Everton were dealt a huge blow in their game against Fulham on Sunday as Ross Barkley was forced off with a suspected calf injury. 

BBC Sport broke the news:

Coming as it does on the back of a majestic performance away at Newcastle, it's something manager Roberto Martinez can well do without.

Barkley's class shone through for all to see at St James' Park and his fine individual performance was capped with a stunning goal.

It prompted more calls for the exciting 20-year-old to be added to Roy Hodgson's England World Cup squad.

BBC Sport's Simon Stone noted the presence of the England manager:

And Barkley's first-half performance at Craven Cottage will have done little to dispel the notion that he can rub shoulders with colleagues at the national-team level:

A spot on the plane could well be beyond the youngster's reach now if this latest injury keeps him out for any length of time.

However, Hodgson will have liked what he saw, and on the strength of the player's first-half performance, he might well give him some extra time within which to prove his fitness.

With the youngster offering not just a dynamic attacking threat, but also a high level of passing accuracy, there should be a spot left open until the last possible moment for Barkley.