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Darron Gibson faces a race against time to be fit for Everton FC’s Premier League opener at Norwich, admits Roberto Martinez.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder is “touch-and-go” to recover in time for Saturday’s game at Carrow Road, after suffering a knee injury during Everton’s final pre-season friendly against Real Betis on Sunday.

Martinez said: “He is going to be touch-and-go for Saturday. He has got a little bit of a strain in his right knee. It’s something he picked up in the warm-up and he tried to run it off and get through the game but he couldn’t.

“Knowing Darron, maybe he has got a chance for Saturday but it’s a little bit of a concern because he will need treatment and we’ll see how that knee reacts over the next 48 to 72 hours.”

Although hopeful that the determined former Manchester United man will be passed fit to face Chris Hughton’s side, Martinez admits it would be a setback to lose such an influential player.

“Darron’s a special footballer,” he added.

“What he brings to the team is quite unique and I think he is one of those players that is at the perfect moment of his career. He’s ready to take a big role at Everton.

“To miss any player at this stage of the season would be a real blow. He has been working over 60 to 70 hours and then if we lose him a few days before the start of the season it would be a big disappointment, but we hope that Darron can recover very quickly.”

Martinez also said that Saturday’s match is likely to come too soon for injured trio Tony Hibbert, Antolin Alcaraz and Magaye Gueye.

He explained: “Tony is recovering really well. I don’t think he will be too far away but Saturday is a little bit too early.

“I don’t expect him to go too much longer without being available to join the group.

“Antolin Alcaraz is probably two weeks away from being back with the full group. Both are progressing well behind the scenes and the same can be said about Magaye.”

Martinez is facing an anxious few days with 13 of his first-team players away on international duty.

Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines and Steven Naismith will all be hoping to be involved in the meeting of England and Scotland at Wembley tonight, while Marouane Fellaini and Kevin Mirallas are with the Belgian squad preparing to host France.

Tim Howard, Seamus Coleman and Nikica Jelavic are also due to turn out for their respective nations and Under-21 action awaits Ross Barkley, John Stones, Luke Garbutt, Shane Duffy and Apostolos Vellios.

Martinez is preparing those players who remain for Saturday’s Premier League opener away at Norwich City.

And he admits it is a far from ideal having so many big names unavailable. “It is frustrating,” he told added. “You have got players away representing their countries and in a way it is always great to carry the name of Everton in international games.

“But you are just keeping your fingers crossed that we can get through with no injuries. That is always a bit of an anxious time.

“I try to watch all the games. We follow all of them through reports and, for as many as we can, we try to get the live games. We keep a close eye on how the players are used and how well they can get through the games.

“For us it is important to get as much information from the matches as possible.”