Gerard Deulofeu nears return to action for Everton

The on-loan Barcelona forward has been out since mid-December

English lesson: The hope is that Gerard Deulofeu will improve by competing in a strong Premier League against good defenders (Getty)

Everton manager Roberto Martinez hopes to have his attacking options boosted by the return of on-loan Barcelona forward Gerard Deulofeu.

The teenager has been sidelined by a hamstring injury since December 14 but is now fully recovered, although his lack of match fitness will be taken into account by Martinez ahead of Sunday's trip to fellow Champions League-chasing rivals Tottenham.

However, with leading scorer Romelu Lukaku out for at least the next month with an ankle problem having the 19-year-old Deulofeu back is a welcome boost for the Toffees

Defender Seamus Coleman, who was an unused subsitute for Saturday's win over Aston Villa after returning from injury himself, looks likely to start at White Hart Lane.

"Everyone is massively needed. We are in a situation were a couple of players will come back from injury and that puts us in a better position than we were a couple of weeks ago," Martinez told evertontv.

"Gerard he such a positive young man and the fact he has been missed so much at Everton is a reflection of the type of person he is.

"We have the game on Sunday so we will be able to assess him as the week goes on but he is fully fit from a medical point of view. It is making sure he is match fit.

"Seamus is fully fit from a medical point of view and although he was on the bench on Saturday it was too much of a risk to bring him on.

January loan signing Lacina Traore is probably a week away from consideration after arriving from Monaco with a hamstring problem.

"We will take our time with Lacina to make sure he is fully fit," said Martinez.

PA