Everton manager Roberto Martinez is hoping that midfielder Steven Pienaar will be fit in time for the upcoming pre-season.

Pienaar has had his season ravaged by persistent injuries and despite making a return to pitch recently, the South African is currently struggling to get a good run of consecutive matches under his belt.

Toffees boss Martinez believes that the various injury problems Pienaar has suffered this season has affected his fitness but has expressed his hope that the 33-year old can get himself fit in time for the upcoming summer pre-season campaign.

Martinez said: "We need to get him fit but it is not a big, big issue. His knee was a big problem and all of the problems that come from the mechanics of the knee.

"You get those seasons where you get one problem after another because you are trying to catch up. So we hope with a period in the summer we will be able to refresh and readjust him to get him ready for pre-season and set him up for a positive campaign next season."