Source: SKY_Sports
Neville edging towards return
Phil Neville is closing in on a first-team return at Everton following a knee ligament injury.
The Toffees skipper has been out of action since picking up a knock against Fulham in September.
It was immediately clear that he was destined for a lengthy spell on the sidelines, with initial reports suggesting he may require surgery.
Fortunately the need to go under the knife has been avoided, with Neville given the all clear by Everton's medical staff.
He has now set his sights on winning back his place in David Moyes' plans in time for the busy festive fixture list.
"I'm doing okay," Neville told Sky Sports News.
"I think with any serious knee injury you have good days and you have bad days, and I have had more good days than bad days.
"I have started jogging this week, I have started touching a ball again and it's always nice to be able to see light at the end of the tunnel.
"I'm starting to get to the point where I'm getting a bit frustrated because I'm itching to get back into first-team action but I have to be patient.
"I'm saying about two or three weeks but the surgeons and the physios are saying more like five or six weeks, so hopefully we can meet somewhere in between."
He added: "I'm hoping to be back before Christmas. The surgeon said 12 weeks when he initially saw the injury and the injury has progressed very well.
"It's about getting back to fitness. I haven't started twisting and turning yet, so that's the next big test for me.
"I will see the surgeon again next week and hopefully he will say I don't need surgery. That's the best I can hope for and then I can step up my training.
"The game in Benfica on Thursday night (in the Europa League) was a game I wanted to play in. It's a fantastic stadium (Estadio da Luz), I played there in Euro 2004 so I know what kind of stage it is to play on, but there are many more big games to come and hopefully I will be back for some of them."
