Gareth Barry: Takes flight following Theophile-Catherine's challenge

There were fears that Barry could be forced to miss Saturday's game at Goodison Park following a crunching tackle by Cardiff's Kevin Theophile-Catherine at the weekend.

The rash challenge in the first half of Cardiff's 2-1 defeat at Goodison Park left stud marks on Barry, who is on loan at Everton from Manchester City, and earned defender Theophile-Catherine a yellow card.

Barry was able to complete the match, and giving an update on the 33-year-old's condition on Tuesday, Toffees boss Roberto Martinez told evertontv: "We've been very fortunate.

"It was a strong knock but he was caught in a position that has allowed him to recover quickly.

"It was painful and he has got stud marks but it didn't affect any joints.

"The ankle and the knee are in perfect condition so luckily enough on this occasion Gareth is fine and today he will train as normal."

Martinez also confirmed that Everton captain Phil Jagielka and winger Steven Pienaar will be monitored in the build-up to the Swansea match.

Defender Jagielka has sat out the last three games with a hamstring complaint, while Pienaar missed the Cardiff contest after limping off in the previous outing, the FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Arsenal.

Meanwhile, Martinez has reported that striker Lacina Traore is making quicker progress than expected in his recovery from a hamstring injury.

After joining on loan from Monaco in January, Traore made just one appearance for the Toffees - February's 3-1 FA Cup win over Swansea, in which he scored - before being sidelined with the problem.

"He is progressing really well," Martinez said. "He has had the first part of the treatment and his recovery is quicker than we expected, so we are very pleased.

"His attitude has been very much focused on coming back and playing before the season ends, which we are very much looking forward to.

"The signs are very good that we will see Lacina in an Everton shirt before the season ends."