We’ll make sure Gibbo comes back stronger says Blues boss – Liverpool Echo

18 Oct 2013 07:34

Darron Gibson is treated by medical staff on the pitch

Everton FC will use Darron Gibson’s lengthy injury lay-off to bullet proof him against future set-backs, says Roberto Martinez.

The midfielder suffered a ruptured cruciate knee ligament during the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, which is expected to rule him out for most of the season.

Gibson, 25, had only just returned from a different knee complaint he picked up in a pre-season friendly against Real Betis, and played his first club football of the season with half an hour of the Blues last game against Manchester City.

Everton paid just £500,000 for the former Manchester United man in January 2012, and he quickly established himself as an influential figure despite a succession of injuries which have limited him to only 35 Premier League appearances during his Goodison career so far.

David Moyes had previously admitted his concern over a persistent thigh problem which plagued Gibson last term and at one point seemed to require surgery. But the Derry-born player enjoyed a strong pre-season and quickly won the favour of his new manager with a series of eye-catching displays.

Now Martinez, who is a qualified physiotherapist, has outlined how he plans to use Gibson’s spell on the sidelines to make him stronger than ever and less prone to injury when he returns.

“Remember that the human body was not made to kick a football,” said the Catalan.

Darron Gibson in flying action

“We will always get areas of weakness in players’ bodies which need areas of attention. We will look at that with Darron.

“He has no problems with his thighs now, we worked hard on  that in pre-season and the medical department made sure he was fully recovered.

“But it’s true that you can do certain work to avoid having areas which are a bit weaker and we will use this term to do it. We want him to come back physically stronger.

“Nobody wants a spell on the sidelines but the reality is we can use it to his advantage and he can enjoy the years ahead with more intensity.”

Martinez said Gibson must only look to team-mate Phil Jagielka, who successfully recovered from a serious anterior cruciate knee ligament (ACL) injury four years ago, and emerged an even better player who has rarely missed a game since.

“Gibbo has been working really hard in pre season and was magnificent,” said the Blues boss, who was a spectator at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin when Gibson was injured earlier this week.

“He had the setback against Betis, which was the medial ligament. For him to come back against Man City and get half an hour under his belt, then perform in the manner he did for Ireland showed that he was back to his best.

Darron Gibson scores for Everton FC against QPR

“So this is another setback but this club has players like Jags who have shown that if you approach it in the right manner you can come back a stronger human being and a more determined footballer.

“The experience will give him the right character he needs to fulfil his enormous potential. He has years ahead of him.

“It will be a tough period and he will be frustrated at seeing his team-mates on the pitch and not being able to join them.

“But apart from that it’s about helping him recover as fast as he can.”

The received wisdom regarding ACL lay-offs is between six and nine months, but Martinez insists he would not be surprised if Gibson managed to return before the end of the current Premier League campaign.

“I think so, knowing Darron,” he said. “He was talking about when his return would be straight after the game and although it’s too early to talk about specific dates before he has even had the operation.

“I’m convinced he is going to work very hard to get back and we’ll see him before the season ends.”

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