“He has been doing ball work with me and some running,” said Rathbone.
“However I keep telling him and I keep telling the manager it is reconstructive surgery to the knee.
“We have a minimum of six months recovery time so he is doing well but he is not there yet.”
Everton’s medical staff will be similarly patient with Mikel Arteta, whose return from his own cruciate problem was delayed by six weeks by further surgery to clean up the injury earlier this month.
“Mikel has had the sutures removed and a bit of the meniscus came free but he seems fine,” said Rathbone.
“He is only seven-and-a-bit months post-op so you’ve got to be careful because these injuries take a long time to come back from.
“We have to take it on the chin and support Mikel but we are talking about a return to action for him in weeks not months.”
Everton’s Carling Cup fourth round tie at Tottenham Hotspur will take place at White Hart Lane on Tuesday, October 27 with an 8pm kick-off.
