Darron Gibson admits he can’t wait to make his long-anticipated Everton comeback in the Capital One Cup tonight and insists: “We’re in it to win it.”
The Republic of Ireland midfielder has not started a game for the Toffees – who have never won the League Cup – since suffering a cruciate ligament injury in October 2013.
He returned as a substitute against Wolfsburg in the Europa League last Thursday, coming on in the second half.
Now he is raring to go and wants to help Roberto Martinez’s men chase silverware in a competition he has already savoured at his former club Manchester United.
He said: “Obviously I can’t wait to start a game – it can’t come quick enough. I am biding my time. I know I can’t jump straight back in, because the lads did so well last year. I just have to be patient and wait for my chance. It has been frustrating to sit on the bench for the first weeks of the season.
“The run of games coming up will provide an opportunity for the whole squad. I think everyone will get games somewhere along the line.
He added: “I have won it (the League Cup) already and probably the most football I played was in that competition while I was at United.
Darron Gibson in action against Celta Vigo
“I really enjoyed it and it was a great opportunity for the young lads to show what they could do. Obviously winning trophies is what you play football for, so it was great to do that.
“Hopefully a few of our young lads can have a chance to play on Tuesday night.
“Some top footballers go through their entire careers and don’t win anything. So to win any trophy is an achievement. We are not going into the cup game on Tuesday taking it lightly. We want to go as far as we can.”
Gibson is not the only long-term absentee hoping to put his woes behind him at the Liberty Stadium tonight.
Left-back Bryan Oviedo is also set to return to first-team action against Swansea after eight months on the sidelines.
The Costa Rica international featured for the Toffees Under-21 side recently as he stepped up his rehabilitation from the broken leg he suffered in January which ruled him out of the summer’s World Cup.
Forward Arouna Kone could also be involved for the first time since sustaining a serious knee problem just under a year ago.
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