Not another one! Barkley facing lengthy absence as Everton and England star suffers suspected broken metatarsal



Everton fear rising star Ross Barkley could be out for several weeks with a foot injury.

The midfielder was forced to miss the Toffees' 2-0 Barclays Premier League win over Norwich at Goodison Park with what could be a broken metatarsal.

The injury in World Cup year for the England hopeful conjures memories of similar setbacks for David Beckham and Wayne Rooney before the 2002 and 2006 tournaments.



Blow: Barkley is expected to miss several weeks with a suspected metatarsal injury

Potential absence: Martinez said after the game that Barkley has a suspected broken toe

Crocked: David Beckham faced a race in time to fit for the World Cup after this injury in April 2002

Deja vu: Rooney cries in anguish after injury his foot against Chelsea in April 2006

Barkley suffered the injury during the FA Cup third-round win over QPR last weekend, a match in which he also scored.

Manager Roberto Martinez said: 'We are going to assess him and it seems he is going to be out for a while. It could be broken.

'We are going to assess it to see if there was displacement or not. It is a very similar incident to the one Leighton Baines had.

New star: Barkley has played 21 games for Everton this term, scoring four goals 'Before we say exactly what it is, that is the fear, that there could be a fracture in his toe.' Left-back Baines returned to action at Christmas after a month on the sidelines with his injury. Barkley, 20, has made a huge impression this season having been given regular first-team opportunities by Martinez.