'Very strong' - Armando Broja could be fast-tracked after positive Everton injury report

Armando Broja has performed better than was expected in his first week of first team training, opening the potential for a quicker return. The forward is yet to feature for Everton since his deadline day move on loan from Chelsea after arriving at Finch Farm with an achilles injury.

But Broja stepped up his recovery during the international break and is now being primed for the next step - a place in the Under-21s. There is hope that he will be ready to feature in the first team in a few weeks.

Discussing the 23-year-old’s rehabilitation schedule, Everton manager Sean Dyche said: “He has done enough with us here and we cannot really replicate the feeling of games, so I would prefer him for the Under-21s.

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“We are discussing the next steps now. He has had a really strong week and a really strong rehab, so hopefully that allows us to fast-track it a bit more than we normally would. He has had extra time with the sports science team and his stats are very strong.”

The terms of Broja’s loan deal include an option for the Blues to make the move permanent for a fee of around £30m. Broja, a longstanding transfer target and a player whose loan the club does not have to start paying for before he starts playing, therefore has the opportunity to stake a claim to lead the line when Everton move to their new waterfront stadium.

Asked whether he expected Albania international to be ready for the first team before Christmas, Dyche said: “We might get in front of that. We will have to wait and see. He would be a priority for the Under-21s and also Youssef [Chermiti, who is also recovering from a long-term injury].

“It hasn’t been tough to be patient with him because you have no choice, some type of injuries you think, ‘come on, really?’. but with this we had to be careful because it was a tendon injury.

“He is moving very freely, he has worked hard and the medical team have done a good job so far.”