James Garner undergoes surgery as Everton confirm injury setback

Everton have confirmed midfielder James Garner has undergone successful surgery after a groin problem was identified during the club's pre-season preparations.

The England midfielder has already begun his rehabilitation programme at Finch Farm, with the Blues optimistic he could return to first-team training around the opening week of the new Premier League campaign.

The club announced that Garner's surgery was completed successfully after medical staff detected the issue during pre-season.

Everton added that the 24-year-old is recovering as expected and has already started rehabilitation under the supervision of the club's medical team.

While no exact return date has been confirmed, the current target is for Garner to resume first-team training around the opening week of the Premier League season, provided his recovery continues without complications.

Garner has become an increasingly important member of Everton's midfield in recent seasons thanks to his versatility, technical quality and work rate.

Although the club remain optimistic about his recovery, the timing of the injury creates uncertainty ahead of the start of the new campaign, with the midfielder now facing a race to regain full fitness.

Everton's medical staff will continue to monitor his rehabilitation before deciding when he is ready to return to competitive action.

The successful operation and encouraging early progress provide hope that Garner will not face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Everton's decision to outline a provisional timetable suggests the club are confident the midfielder can return relatively early in the season if his rehabilitation proceeds as planned.

Garner will continue his rehabilitation programme at Finch Farm over the coming weeks. Everton are targeting a return to first-team training around the opening week of the Premier League season, although his comeback will remain dependent on his recovery progressing as expected.