DAVID MOYES has received a major fitness boost with the news Mikel Arteta is on course for a return to action this month.

The Spaniard has been sidelined since sustaining a cruciate ligament injury during the goalless draw at Newcastle United on February 22.

Arteta suffered a setback a month ago when he was forced to undergo surgery to repair stitches that had worn free in a torn cartilage in his injured right knee.

Everton manager Moyes revealed the midfielder was expected to be sidelined for a further six weeks.

Arteta has continued his rehabilitation in Spain and, after visiting the 27-year-old this week, head physio Mick Rathbone believes the player is over his “minor blip” and is close to a comeback.

“The stitches coming out was a big psychological blow for Mikel because he tried so hard to come back as soon as he possibly could,” said Rathbone.

“He was putting so many hours in every single day but there was just some bad luck. Sometimes though that is nature’s way of telling you to slow down a bit.

“Mikel looks good now and everything is going well so let’s just call what happened a minor blip. He is still on a decent schedule, he is now seven months along and it is only a minor setback.”