Hibbert back on the treatment table

, 10 May, 54comments  |  Jump to most recent

Tony Hibbert's brief return to first-team action is over after he suffered an ankle injury that ends his season following just one 45-minute cameo.

The 35-year-old was drafted back into the squad after 18 months on the sidelines for the match against Bournemouth 9 days ago and came on at half time for Muhamed Besic, earning good reviews for a typically tenacious performance.

He didn't figure at Leicester on Saturday, however, and it has now been revealed that he damaged ligaments in his ankle in training. He will now see a specialist to assess whether or not he will require surgery.

That could mark the end of his playing career with the Blues — Hibbert is out of contract this summer and is not expected to be offered another extension.

With Seamus Coleman ruled out of tomorrow's clash with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, Roberto Martinez will again be without an experienced, natural right back. Perennially injured Brazilian fullback Fellipe Mattioni is also out of action with another hamstring injury.

Bryan Oviedo deputised for Coleman in the 3-1 defeat at the King Power Stadium following Besic's struggles in the role but youngsters like Jonjoe Kenney, back from a loan spell with Oxford United, and Callum Connolly are options.

 

Reader Comments (54)

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Martin Nicholls
1 Posted 10/05/2016 at 17:14:55
Is this a joke?
Stephen Brown
3 Posted 10/05/2016 at 17:29:40
When I heard Pienaar and Hibbert were injured before the Leicester game I thought ! Are they taking the piss ??!
Jim Bennings
4 Posted 10/05/2016 at 17:30:11
I hope I'm wrong but I do fear this may be the curtain call on Tony Hibbert's career, at 35 and with three years of sustained injuries behind him it's going to be immensely difficult for him to come back from this one and compete again at top level.

Much like Steven Pienaar, it's a sad end to a good solid Everton career through injuries.

Stephen Brown
5 Posted 10/05/2016 at 17:31:10
Please don't waste Physio time effort and money on them now! Give them a leaving do and wish them all the best!
Chris Williams
6 Posted 10/05/2016 at 17:50:02
Fines Mori back. Pennington to right back?
Patrick Carty
7 Posted 10/05/2016 at 17:56:09
Play Pennington right back, simple as. We know our manager does, so expect Oviedo to be given the nod.
Guy Hastings
8 Posted 10/05/2016 at 18:01:03
And there I was expecting to blow one last fiver on Hibbo to score. I'll buy a couple of pints instead and drink to his playing memory. A 'proper' full back.
Garry Corgan
9 Posted 10/05/2016 at 18:10:32
I believe Tyias Browning is out injured too. Mason Holgate anyone? Nothing to lose...

Or even play a 3-5-2 with Stones, Pennington and Funes Mori with Lennon and Baines as wing backs.

Or move Stones to right back with Pennington and Funes Mori in the middle.

Plenty of options.

Ian Jones
10 Posted 10/05/2016 at 18:11:25
Probably Niasse injured him!
Duncan McDine
11 Posted 10/05/2016 at 18:14:08
Bloody hell, he's as bad as me. Poor fella. I'm the same age and keep going over on my ankle, its just 'one-o-dem' where it never gets better, and every time you make a come back its just a matter of 'when'.

Anyway I'd better keep quiet or else Everton might try to sign me!

Thanks for all you've done Tony, but this looks like the end. Go catch a big one lad!

Steve Hopkins
12 Posted 10/05/2016 at 18:14:55
Shame that that's probably it for Hibbo's career and shame that it still takes him at 35 and less fit than even Niasse to make our defence look a little more solid.

Farewell Hibbo, as Guy says....a proper old school full back

Anthony Dwyer
13 Posted 10/05/2016 at 18:45:02
Give him another 2 years ....
David Connor
14 Posted 10/05/2016 at 18:50:58
I for one think he has been very, very lucky. 3 years wages and very rarely fit.The hard life of a premiership footballer, your heart bleeds. Cynicism over. Bin a good solid pro over the years.

Probably played his last game for us. Good luck Hibbo... If only we had more players with your attitude at the club we may not be in the shite position we are in now.

David Milner
15 Posted 10/05/2016 at 18:55:00
Jonjoe Kenny has just returned from a very successful loan year at Oxford.

Oxford won promotion & Jonjoe was one of their standout performers at (you guessed it) Right Back.

Ready made replacement, it was obvious after the last match that Brian Oviedo cannot play in that position.

Jim Bennings
16 Posted 10/05/2016 at 19:05:49
It begs the question with the cash we've spent over the last three years why no right back has been signed as cover for any injury/loss of form for Seamus Coleman.

Playing Oviedo there is a total joke and Stones is another that should never see the right back berth again.

We need to sign/bring through a new Tony Hibbert in my opinion, a real old school tough tackling bite yer legs defender that actually does what it says on the tin and DEFENDS.

Coleman for me has always been better going forward but never near Hibbert defensively and again I look at Coleman , out of the 6 season's he's had in the team he's only really shone in maybe two of those.

I think right back is a position we really need to look at bolstering in summer if we want to be improving on what we've witnessed the last two years.

Kunal Desai
17 Posted 10/05/2016 at 19:18:19
I just hope in the coming months and years we see a change in image of Everton under Mr Moshiri. No doubt the club will fall into his hands at somepoint. I just want to see EFC run as a corporate business and not some dead end tuck shop. The club is a laughing stock. The mentality of the people from the top has not helped one bit over the last 30 years. Its not just the management and playing staff that need a clear out. Senior management/executives in big decision making must also be told to clear off. Get those in with business expertise and acumen, those who have previously worked for global corporate businesses.
Ian Brandes
18 Posted 10/05/2016 at 19:24:25
I have always liked TH, but surely it is now time to say goodbye unless he joins the back room staff on vastly reduced wages.

He did put in a shift in his only outing really, but, like some others, he is crocked and must be moved on

Joe McMahon
19 Posted 10/05/2016 at 19:32:13
Kunal (spot on). It makes you wonder how much we pay in salaries every season to players well over 30 who never actually play. Hibbert must be on at least 30k a week.
Colin Glassar
20 Posted 10/05/2016 at 19:43:18
Time to put Hibbo out of his misery methinks.
Steve Hopkins
21 Posted 10/05/2016 at 19:50:36
Who did he play against as an emergency centre back, was it in the Europa under Moyes? Seem to remember him having a pretty decent games despite being 4ft nothing tall
Charlie Lloyd
23 Posted 10/05/2016 at 20:24:13
Not trying to defend the undefendable but he did try and recruit Sam Byram from Leeds in January. He chose West Ham instead and has been pretty much injured since signing....would have fitted right in then.

Signing Mattioni was quite ridiculous. Enough said on him.

Oviedo looks terrible at right back. He's looked a far worse player since signing his new contract to be honest. Anybody surprised by that.

For me give Connolly another chance or blood Kenny. We will only see how good they may be by giving them a chance.

Martinez has practically nothing to lose. Only his job and that's close to happening isn't it?

14600+ votes 94% say get rid can this be ignored.

Jay Wood
24 Posted 10/05/2016 at 20:30:24
Charlie @ 23.

This is the spin Roberto put on Bryam going to WHU instead of us:

"Sam's situation was one where, as on many occasions, we were first to identify a good player in the Championship. We went through the correct procedures, established a good relationship with Leeds, but in the end it was not the right move for Sam or the right player for us and that was end of it for us. It wasn't right to bring a young talent in for the sake of it. It was not right for him and it wasn’t a challenge he could embrace."

That clears that one up then ... errr ... then again ...

David Milner
25 Posted 10/05/2016 at 20:32:54
Joe @19

Barry £60,000
Hibbert £25,000
Gibson £35,000
Pienaar £50,000
Jagielka £50,000
Kone £40,000
Osman £40,000
Howard £38,000
Mattioni £12,000
Oviedo £24,000 plays like he is over 30

Ian Bennett
26 Posted 10/05/2016 at 20:40:04
Nearly 400k on basic salary excluding bonuses, or the wages of 4 top players (keeper, centre back, left wing centre mid) supplemented by giving the youngsters game time.
James Stewart
27 Posted 10/05/2016 at 20:42:51
@25, those are quite conservative estimates Barry was reported as on 120k per week when he signed. Howard also on a lot more than 38k.
David Milner
28 Posted 10/05/2016 at 20:48:31
Ian @26

Ledson for Barry
Kenny for Hibbert
Walsh for Gibson
Dowell for Pienaar
Holgate for Jagielka
Davies for Kone
Tarashaj for Osman
Hewelt for Howard
Connolly for Mattioni
Foulds for Oviedo

That's $400,000 saved per week & I have not mentioned
Henen, Pennington or any of the others already on the staff.

James @27 i believe these are the basics without bonus for games played & performances.

Jim Bennings
29 Posted 10/05/2016 at 20:53:03
David

Maybe in a perfect world but are all those youngster's really what we need in a bid to try getting this club high up the table again.?
Likewise is it fair on young lads also to deal with the pressure of coming into the team if needed?

John Stones is a prime example of a young lad that's suffered badly with the expectancy levels, maybe he should never have been rushed into things if we had signed at least two experienced central defender's.

Ian Hollingworth
30 Posted 10/05/2016 at 20:54:45
What is the tag line on EFC website "nothing will be the same again".

Sorry but everything feels exactly the same to me. Same old shit.

Jamie Crowley
31 Posted 10/05/2016 at 20:57:56
I was so hoping Hibbo would score and we'd have at least one happy memory of this season.

A la Game of Thrones:
And now his watch has ended.

I wanted to see the Hibbo riot, and not in a silly testamonial.

David Milner
32 Posted 10/05/2016 at 20:59:25
Jim @29

I was just pointing out the saving, which would mean we would have £400,000 per week to spend on top class players.

The youngsters I have mentioned would replace the over 30's without much difference in standard.

We should be able to get 6 top class players in for £400,000 per week also.

David Milner
33 Posted 10/05/2016 at 21:02:34
According to the list of wages paid per season we sit in 11th. on £69.5 mill with the shite only spending £4.2 mill more.
Brin Williams
34 Posted 10/05/2016 at 21:09:50
Hibbert has the ball, and the shout goes up 'SHOOT" - well I'm sorry to say the time has come to shoot Hibbo!!

Tight lines mate.!

Brin Williams
35 Posted 10/05/2016 at 21:11:10
As for Pienaar - send him to Spurs on a free!
Anto Byrne
36 Posted 10/05/2016 at 21:11:22
When Oviedo was playing left back, he was playing well... got a knock and was dropped. Then he was expected to play right back after losing match fitness. I like the guy as a footballer but maybe its time to move on as we bring in Garbutt and the like and start the rebuilding process.

It's sad that Hibbert can't have a farewell game but time has caught up. The playing list is a bit tired looking age-wise with so many over the age of 32. These guys don't have the hunger of youth and are simply topping up their bank accounts.

Kim Vivian
37 Posted 10/05/2016 at 21:19:41
Felipe Mattioni - have I actually heard of him before tonight?
Brin Williams
38 Posted 10/05/2016 at 21:25:04
So, with all these figures of purported salaries being bandied about are we all in agreement that the club is being mis-managed?

Allied to the fact that we are getting piss poor returns on our merchandising - probably time for real change!!!

Barry Pearce
39 Posted 10/05/2016 at 21:46:40
Jonjoe Kenny is a natural right back, wouldn't do any harm giving him a chance. Plus he's well match fit, and would give it right good go.
Bob Cumiskey
40 Posted 10/05/2016 at 21:47:27
Thanks for all of your service Tony.

Good luck for the future, you truly are a true blue.
John Crawley
41 Posted 10/05/2016 at 22:44:48
Ridiculous bringing him back in anyway, he should have given Connolly another 45 minutes. In fact he should be playing Connolly tomorrow night. Hibbert is the past and we should be looking to the future.
Clive Rogers
42 Posted 10/05/2016 at 22:59:33
Anti #36,
Garbutt has not exactly been a success at Fulham, starting only 13 games.
Dan Davies
43 Posted 10/05/2016 at 23:07:46
We've got some really good young players that could make it. We will never know unless we give them a chance. Throw em in, sink or swim! Time for a change of guard.
Jack Convery
44 Posted 10/05/2016 at 23:27:13
Another mess created by the deluded one - he wanted the lad from Leeds but then he went to WHU and as is usual with RM, there was no plan B.

Play Connolly or Kenny, they deserve their opportunity.

Kieran Kinsella
45 Posted 10/05/2016 at 23:34:38
Why are we wasting time and money treating him? Time for the lame dog to get the old teller treatment.
Jim Bennings
47 Posted 11/05/2016 at 08:03:20
Garbutt actually did well when he was in our team last season, he played excellent in the win at Wolfsburg and had another few good performances at left back in the Europa League, it was somewhat surprising to see him at the age of 22 loaned to Fulham to be honest.

I think Garbutt should be here challenging Baines next season, he's a better option than Oviedo and Galloway played ok as fullback earlier this season but he started struggling there after a while, a centre half by trade.

Jim Bennings
48 Posted 11/05/2016 at 08:05:53
What the point is to Felipe Mattioni I have no idea, no idea who signed him or where he came from, he's 28 apparently and we signed him to do his fitness a favour, if you ask me he's our version of Sean Dundee... Or is that Niasse?
Phil Walling
49 Posted 11/05/2016 at 08:44:52
Dan @ 43 ; managers under the cosh don't behave like that and you can hardly expect them to do so. Chucking young players wholesale into a losing team has only ever guaranteed on thing. More losses.

As far as having 'some really good young players', I think you are looking through those blue-tinted specs again. The likes of Connelly, Galloway, Pennington, Browning et al may look okay on the occasional first team appearance but none of them are anything special and will have to be introduced gradually if they are to have a chance of making it. And, even then, the odds are that none of them will ever become Everton regulars.

Just look at the evidence. Taking Barks and Stones as young players who HAVE been given a chance, after more than 100 games between them, they are still the subject of intense debate about their value to our team. And both are England players !

No way, could any manager expect a team of Barkleys and Stones to bring success although having seen Niasse in serious action, it looks like massive transfer fees carry no more certainty of quality.

All in all, it's a fucking mess from top to bottom and most of us know it will take more than a few kids and a new manager to sort it out !

John Hall
50 Posted 11/05/2016 at 08:55:42
Next season should be interesting – new manager, only Under-21s left. Good luck to David Unsworth as the new manager... here's hoрing!
Martin Nicholls
52 Posted 11/05/2016 at 09:02:04
Anyone else remember Hibbert's performance in (half of) the 2009 FA Cup final? So bad he had to be substituted by Lars (who he?) Jacobsen. My thought at the time was I never wanted to see him in our shirt again and I suspect others felt the same. A little harsh maybe but taking off the blue tinted glasses, he was no more than an adequate full back - certainly not the "Everton great" that others portray him as. I and others have questioned the claim that we currently have the best EFC squad in 30 years instead listing names from Moyes' squads of 7/8 years ago - no-one has include Hibbo in their list! Enough said? Thanks and goodbye Hibbo.
Paul Thompson
53 Posted 11/05/2016 at 13:34:08
Play Kenny. No brainer. He's done well for Oxford is an actual right back.
Mike Berry
54 Posted 11/05/2016 at 14:59:49
Will be sad to see him go. He is old school. Think he will surface at Celtic along with Osman and Moyes
Steve Cotton
55 Posted 11/05/2016 at 15:34:17
Not bad work if you can get it 45 mins kicking a ball a season and 20k a week.
Tony Waring
56 Posted 11/05/2016 at 17:16:58
Martin (52). Hibbo was incorrectly carded in the FA Cup Final. Can't remember which Chelsea player fell over - most of them are pretty adept at it - but thereafter Hibbo had to be extra careful lest he incur a second yellow. All in all he has given great service to Everton, a proper full back with a good tackle in him and good pace. He should be taken on to the defense training staff in my opinion.
Kevin Turner
57 Posted 11/05/2016 at 17:51:32
Hibbo has been a great servant to the club over his career but I can't understand him carrying on. In fact I would be ashamed to collect my money if I had done diddly squat for god knows how long.

He's obviously over the hill and we should have either paid him off or taken him on in a coaching capacity (assuming he's worth that job of course). Just another example if we need one of how badly this club has been run under BK and RM.
John Graham
58 Posted 11/05/2016 at 19:44:57
Not a great player but a great blue who alway gave 100%. Always need his type in the team to keep the work ethic and gee up other players. Sorry but think now it's time to move on to the back room staff and show the players what being an Evertonian means.

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