LIVERPOOL -- Everton defender Leighton Baines could potentially make his long-awaited return from injury when Aston Villa visit Goodison Park on Saturday.
Baines has not played in a competitive match since May, having had two ankle operations.
The England left-back had been close to a return following surgery when he aggravated his injury in a freak training ground accident two days before the start of the Premier League season.
But Baines, 30, has resumed full training and played 90 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Championship side Preston on Nov. 11, scoring in a 4-3 victory at Finch Farm.
Manager Roberto Martinez said: "We don't know [yet] for this weekend -- we'll make a decision on Friday. We've got a really important session today, because everybody will be back from international duty.
"Leighton will be part of that session, and it will be the same on Friday. The decision on Leighton will be made after that session.
"With Leighton, we're going to take it day by day. It's impossible to say when he'll be back.
"He's fully fit from a medical point of view. Now it's just about making sure that he gets to a good level of match fitness.
"We're preparing him as much as we can in training. We had a game behind closed doors where he had a full 90 minutes. He really looked sharp.
"I consider Leighton to be very close to being involved with the squad from now on."
Everton midfielder Tom Cleverley, who spent last season on loan at Aston Villa while a Manchester United player, is also in line to return.
Cleverley, signed by Martinez on a free transfer after leaving Old Trafford at the end of last season, has been out of action since late August with an ankle problem.
Midfielder Mo Besic, who has not figured for Everton in more than two months because of hamstring problems, is also available after playing for Bosnia-Herzegovina as they were beaten by the Republic of Ireland in a Euro 2016 qualifying play-off on Monday.
Defenders Brendan Galloway and Tyias Browning will be assessed ahead of the Villa game. Browning will have a scan on a knee problem, while Galloway has a muscle injury.