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Everton defender Tyias Browning has revealed how Arouna Kone is acting as inspiration on his long road back to full fitness.

Browning has been absent since undergoing surgery on a knee injury suffered during Everton under-21’s Lancashire Senior Cup tie with Blackburn Rovers last December.

The 22-year-old is gradually stepping up his rehabilitation as he closes in on a return to first-team contention.

And the defender has been leaning on the experience of team-mate Kone, who suffered a similar problem during his first season at Goodison back in 2013.

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“Arouna Kone had a similar operation so he has been helping me on the road to recovery – I use Arouna as my guide!” said Browning.

“He’s always giving me little ideas on exercises to try and things like that. But the whole team have helped keep my spirits up.

“I have had a lot of messages on social media from fans as well. When I go to games they always ask me when I am back. They have always been positive and I want to thank them for that.

“It will be a special moment when I am back out there, and I can’t wait. I’m going to be so rusty though!”

Browning made six appearances for the Blues last season before the injury, which forced him to miss out on the chance of an England under-21 cap having been called up by Gareth Southgate.

And the youngster is determined not to take any chances on his fitness having been sidelined for such a long period.

“I am at the stage now where I have just got to be careful,” he said. “That way I can make sure I come back in good enough shape.

“The knee feels good at the minute but I am just going day-by-day. I have to make sure it is 100% for when I get back playing.

“Each day, I come in and ‘activate’ it with certain specific exercises. But the physios monitor me constantly and they have helped me a lot.”

Speaking to evertonfc.com, he added: “It has been nearly 10 months since the operation. I had never been injured before, even growing up as a kid, so to get hit with a nine-to-12 month injury was the worst feeling I have ever had.

“At first it was mentally challenging and don’t get me wrong, it still is now. I was on crutches for two months and that was tough.”