Antolin Alcaraz hopes to put injury problems behind him

The Paraguay international, who followed manager Roberto Martinez from Wigan last summer, only managed seven appearances for Everton last season due to hamstring and thigh injuries.

The 31 year-old's absence handed John Stones the opportunity to make his first-team breakthrough, but Alcaraz is now looking forward to a full pre-season and a chance to prove his worth.

"On a personal level, it's one to put behind me," Alcaraz told evertontv. "It's one to forget almost as it's been full of negatives.

"The frustration as a player is that an injury stops you doing what you most enjoy.

"It's almost like it is taking your liberty away from you and you become a prisoner in your own situation.

"But it's gone now and it's not worth looking back and feeling sorry for yourself.

"You have to look ahead, be positive and I'm looking forward to next season and hoping for better things.

"I took solace in is that I was able to play a few games towards the end of the season and physically I came through those okay, and that is promising for next season.

"What I want more than anything is to make sure that I am 100 per cent fit, totally free from injuries and have the chance to do what I do."