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Everton in a good state - Baines

Cape Town - Everton veteran Leighton Baines believes they can feel optimistic about the future considering the number of players coming back from injury.

The Toffees endured a tumultuous 2017/18 season which saw them drop into the Premier League relegation zone under manager Ronald Koeman before Sam Allardyce helped them stabilise and eventually finish eighth in the standings.

The Merseyside had to go through most of the season without the likes of Yannick Bolasie and Seamus Coleman, and Baines believes having them back for next term will be huge.

"I think the Football Club in general is in a good state," he told the club's official website.

"There's no doubt that some of the injuries throughout the course of last season hampered us and we missed key players.

"It would be great to have everyone back. I know people do pick up injuries, but we've had a few long-term ones - Yannick, Seamus (Coleman), and then James (McCarthy) and other people throughout the course of the season.

"But there's plenty of cause for optimism as well with the young players that we've got here. I think they've done really well.

"They've come in and it's been tough. It's not an easy time to come into a side as a young lad, when it's tough, but they've come in and done really well.

"I think there's always an opportunity to go and make some new signings in the summer - if the people in charge see fit - and I think there are plenty of positives there to be taken."

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