Leighton Baines pleased to be back in action following injury lay-off

Everton defender Leighton Baines has said that he was pleased to be back on the pitch after an injury lay-off.

The 30-year-old underwent ankle surgery in May and has been ruled out over the summer, missing the Toffees' pre-season tour of Singapore.

However, Baines returned to the fold for his side's clash against Hearts to build his fitness ahead of the new season.

"It was good to get back," Baines told the club's official website. "I've not been with the lads much, just a couple of training sessions, so it's a case of fast-tracking a little bit now with the season creeping up.

"Bryan and I stayed back because we felt we'd do better work back home, with the time difference, the travel distance and the jet lag if we had travelled.

"So we did all our fitness work at Finch Farm and, with hindsight, it was probably the right call. Now it's a case of getting that sharpness and fitness back. It felt good out on the pitch, probably better than I expected it to in terms of how you feel on the ball."

Everton face Watford in their Premier League opener on August 8.