Everton defender Ramiro Funes Mori discusses frustration and potential injury return date

Everton defender Ramiro Funes Mori has expressed his delight at returning to the club's training complex and is confident of making a full recovery from the knee injury that ended his season prematurely.

Funes Mori, 26, suffered a torn meniscus while playing for Argentina in March and spent the first phase of his rehabilitation in his homeland after undergoing surgery. The former River Plate star is now back training lightly at Finch Farm and is hoping to return to full fitness before the start of the Toffees' preseason excursions.

"I was a little frustrated [because] of the injury, so it was good to be back home to clear my head," The Everton defender told the club's official website. "Now I feel good to be back here doing my recovery.

"It's light training at the moment, balancing exercises with my knee and work with the weights. The physios are doing a great job to get me back as soon as possible. After the off-season, I'll be good.

"The Everton people are very special. When I arrived here they showed me a lot of love. I feel happy to be back here."

Funes Mori spent a substantial period of the season on the substitutes' bench but did manage to start 16 Premier League games for Ronald Koeman's side. The Argentine, who had a brief trial with Chelsea along with his twin brother Rogelio when he was a teenager, joined Everton from River Plate for £9.5m ($12m) in the summer of 2015 and has become a rather polarising figure within the club's fan base.

Funes Mori has three years left on his current deal at Goodison Park but could well find himself leaving Merseyside in the summer, with Koeman eager to bolster his central defensive options in the summer transfer window.

The former Southampton manager is targeting moves for Virgil van Dijk and Burnley defender Michael Keane, but will have to make do with the ageing pair of Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka for Everton's last home game of the season against Watford on Friday evening (12 May).