Everton duo Tony Hibbert and Joseph Yobo are winning their battles to be fit for the FA Cup semi-final.
The pair are optimistic they will recover from injury in time for next month's meeting with Manchester United at Wembley.
Full-back Hibbert has been out for three weeks with a thigh problem he sustained in the home win over West Bromwich Albion, while Yobo damaged a hamstring in training last week and missed Saturday's defeat at Portsmouth.
Both players are expected to be fit in three weeks time, which will coincide with Everton's trip to Wembley to face United for the right to play in their first cup final since 1995.
And there is more good news on the injury front with midfielder Tim Cahill set to be fit for Everton's next match at home to Wigan Athletic on 5th April.
Cahill also missed the Portsmouth fixture with a calf injury, but he has flown to Australia this week to link up with the national squad for their World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan on 1st April.
Everton physio Mick Rathbone said: "Tony's injury was a bad one and he is now 23 days into his recovery and we were talking of four to six weeks before he could play again so he is making good progress.
"Hopefully he will train towards the middle of next week. Joseph's hamstring injury is not so bad. If there is a good time to injure your hamstring, it is during the international break, I suppose."
(From Wesite : http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~1603310,00.html)
