Everton's Muhamed Besic to miss start of Premier League season with ankle injury

Everton midfielder Muhamed Besic is set to miss the start of the 2015-16 Premier League season after picking up an ankle injury early in preseason.

The club confirmed that the Bosnian international would miss the team's first match against Watford on Aug. 8, but Besic shouldn't miss much more than the first match or two, according to Everton manager Roberto Martinez.

"Mo picked up the injury against Swindon in the first game and is recovering really, really well," Martinez told Everton's official website. "He is a player with a lot of power and a player who I expect to be fit just after the start of the campaign. I think he will miss the opening game but after that he will be close to a return."

Besic, 22, is known for his pace and defensive stability and will be a noticeable absence for the Toffees. He made 31 appearances in all competitions last season for Everton, but did not travel with the squad to Scotland during preseason.

Martinez is expecting winger Aiden McGeady to return by the end of August, too.

"Aiden was carrying the little hamstring problem that affected him from the international game and he’s been carrying that niggle for a while," Martinez said. "He has had a good week while we’ve been in Scotland and he’s getting to the root of the problem. We are quite confident that in the next two to three weeks he will show a good reaction to the treatment he’s been having."