Everton manager Roberto Martinez has revealed that injured left-back Bryan Oviedo remains on course for a remarkable recovery in time for the World Cup from the double leg break that he suffered in January.
The initial prognosis for the Costa Rica international was that he would miss the rest of the season as well as the World Cup, but Martinez said that the player could even return to training before the final game of the season against Hull City.
"Bryan has come back from Costa Rica now and will be with us until the end of the season," he told Everton's official website. "We've been working really closely with the Costa Rican federation and we're all very pleased with his progress.
"I do feel Bryan has a really good opportunity to join the group in the final week of the season, which is an incredible recovery time for an injury that is still very fresh in everyone's minds.
"He's got a really good opportunity [to make the World Cup]. I think it depends a little bit on what role they want him to have, but I'm sure that, from a medical point of view, he'll be available, which allows the manager to make a decision on that."
Oviedo suffered the injury against Stevenage on January 25.