Oviedo will be ready to take on England at World Cup, says Everton boss Martinez as Costa Rican recovers from broken leg



Roberto Martinez is confident Bryan Oviedo will be ready to face England at the World Cup after issuing a positive bulletin on his recovery from an horrific leg break.

The Costa Rica international, 24, shattered his fibula and tibia during Everton’s 4-0 win over Stevenage in the FA Cup on January 25 and it was initially expected he would be facing a battle to be fit for next season, such was the severity of the injury.

Oviedo, however, has made remarkable progress since undergoing an operation to repair the damage and has already been in the gym and using the exercise bikes at Everton’s Finch Farm training base.

Road to Rio: Everton manager Roberto Martinez thinks Bryan Oviedo will be fit for the World Cup

Martinez’s confidence that Oviedo will be able to take on England in the final Group D game in Belo Horizonte on June 24, however, comes from the independent assessment of Andy Williams, one of the UK’s leading consultants who works with many Barclays Premier League sides.

‘Bryan is well ahead in his recovery time,’ said Everton’s manager. ‘We have sent him back to Costa Rica because we are working with the national team who want to assess him.

‘He saw an independent specialist this week in London before he went away and the specialist feels he can make the World Cup. That would be an incredible statement given he suffered the injury only six weeks ago at Stevenage.

Nasty: The Costa Rican suffered a horrific broken leg during Everton's 4-0 FA Cup win over Stevenage

‘The World Cup is an incredible opportunity for him so that is why we are working together with the national team to try and get him fully fit. He will be in Costa Rica for the next two weeks and then will come back here.

‘We are going to send some of our medical department over to Costa Rica with him because we want to do everything we can for him.’ Oviedo, who joined Everton from FC Copenhagen in August 2012, had been enjoying his best season and had scored the winning goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford last November. Martinez says his determination to play in Brazil can have a positive spin-off for Everton.

‘For a player to go through an injury like that and make a World Cup would mean so much,’ said Martinez. ‘We want that to happen, I certainly wouldn’t stand in the way of that. He deserves it to happen.

Hero: Oviedo scores Everton's winner against Manchester United at Old Trafford

‘We would get a better player back at Everton if Bryan has played in the World Cup. Physically he is a machine, so I would have no concerns over that. The surgery went really well and he is better than we could have hoped at this stage.