Phil Jagielka on the verge of returning for Everton after two months out of action

Everton captain Phil Jagielka will make his return from a two-month injury absence in one of the club's next three games.

The Toffees skipper suffered medial knee ligament damage in the October loss to Arsenal and has spent the past nine weeks on the sidelines having previously started in every game this term.

Blues boss Roberto Martinez confirmed he is nearing the end of his rehabilitation now and expects Jagielka to play in one of the Merseyside club's next three games, against Tottenham, Manchester City or Dagenham&Redbridge.

Everton have only lost twice without the England international at the heart of their defence but they have only kept three clean sheets in those 11 games and have shipped seven goals in back-to-back home defeats to Leicester and Stoke.

Teenager Brendan Galloway, John Stones and Argentinian Ramiro Funes Mori, 21 and 24 respectively, have played the bulk of the games since October and Martinez believes the imminent return of the 33-year-old Jagielka will help plug the gaps in his leaky defence.