TONY HIBBERT could return to action against West Ham United on Saturday but physio Mick Rathbone admits the right-back is making slow progress with a neck injury.

Hibbert has missed Everton’s last two games against Sunderland and Tottenham and Rathbone said: “Tony just appeared one day with a really, really sore neck. That was eleven days ago now and I must say it’s not getting better too quickly, so he’s making really slow progress. He’s not training at the moment. But the thing about necks is they do resolve quite quickly and spontaneously, so we’re kind of hoping he’s going to come in everyday lots better, but at the moment he’s doing okay.

“He’s certainly not ruled out of Saturday’s game, but he’s making slow progress.”

Long-term casualty Nuno Valente could also figure before the end of the Premier League campaign having not played a first team game since the first two matches of the season.

Rathbone said: “Nuno had a bad knee injury and he’s been out for about five months now, but he’s doing okay. We’ve been running hard with him and doing some ball work. We want to get him involved for the last couple of weeks for sure.”

Meanwhile, Rathbone is pleased with Phil Jagielka’s rehabilitation in the first two weeks since the defender underwent surgery on his anterior cruciate knee ligament.

He said: The post-op period has gone well.

“He’s achieved all the criteria the surgeon asked for and the wound is clean. He comes in everyday, and he’s doing okay, it’s a six-month injury, but he’s filled all the post-op criteria.

“He is in good spirits. I think deep down he is still devastated obviously – but he’s putting on a brave face.”