Everton manager Roberto Martínez says Ross Barkley is progressing well from his knee injury, and could even be back sooner than expected. 

It was thought Barkley, who damaged ligaments before the season started, would be out for the bulk this year’s premiership, but Martínez admits he's making good progress and could return to first-team action within a week. 

Martínez says it’s too early to tell whether Irish internationals James McCarthy and Séamus Coleman could return for this Saturday’s game at home to Aston Villa.

The manager spoke at length about injuries and contracts at his press conference this morning and he seemed mystified when questioned about McCarthy’s long-term future on Merseyside. Hear what he had to say below.

In other premiership news, Arsenal's Arsène Wenger has confirmed that Mesut Özil is out for at least six more weeks. The German playmaker was sent home from international duty early due to a knee injury, but Wenger says the former Real Madrid player didn't reveal he was injured during the Gunners’ 2-0 defeat to Chelsea.