UNLUCKY BAINES OUT FOR 12 WEEKS

EVERTON’S worst fears over Leighton Baines are set to be realised with the left back facing a lay-off that could last until November. The England defender had surgery in May to repair his right ankle ligament but suffered an injury in the same place at the club’s Finch Farm training base at the end of last week. He will now visit a specialist but it seems inevitable another operation will be required. Roberto Martinez described the setback as ‘a real disaster’ and games against Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are among those he is set to miss. Baines (below) will also be out of England’s four remaining Euro 2016 qualifiers. His absence, though, will not force Martinez to reassess his transfer plans. Xherdan Shaqiri, the Inter Milan playmaker, is Martinez’s top target. He also wants River Plate defender Ramiro Funes Mori, and a striker. Martinez was relieved to escape a difficult opening match with a point. With better fortune, Watford would have hung on following the goals by Miguel Layun and Odion Ighalo. They are two of 22 foreign players in Quique Flores’s squad and the Watford boss says it will be hard to trim that number to 17. ‘It will be difficult,’ he said. ‘We have 22 different nationalities but they are a unit. They understand perfectly what we want.’

SUPER STAT: For the first time in their history, Everton have drawn their opening match for the third season in a row.

EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Howard 7; Coleman 7, Stones 6.5, Jagielka 6.5, Galloway 6 (Kone 62min, 8); McCarthy 6, Barry 6; Mirallas 6 (Oviedo 76), Barkley 7, Cleverley 6; Lukaku 6 (Naismith 90). Subs not used: Robles, Osman, Browning, McAleny. Scorers: Barkley 76, Kone 86. Booked: Coleman. WATFORD (4-2-3-1): Gomes 8.5; Nyom 7, Prodl 7, Cathcart 7, Holebas 6.5; Anya 6, Capoue 6; Layun 7 (Paredes 59, 6), Behrami 7.5, Jurado 7 (Ighalo 74, 7); Deeney 7.5.

Subs not used: Gilmartin, Angella, Vydra, Pudil, Watson. Scorers: Layun 14, Ighalo 83. Booked: Deeney, Holebas.

Man of the match: Heurelho Gomes. Referee: Mike Jones 7.