Everton’s Mikel Arteta has undergone the knife for a stomach problem which has been troubling him for quite some time.

Arteta, who has had the problem since before Christmas, has at times played for his club fighting through the pain.

The operation was performed in Barcelona earlier in the week and he is now looking forward to the pre-season training in July.

Everton head physio Mick Rathbone told evertonTV: “Mikel, in Barcelona, yesterday had a minor bit of surgery to release some of the tension around the muscles.

“Hopefully that will cure it and he will be fit for the start of pre-season. One of our medical staff was present and I am going over tomorrow to see him.”

“To be fair to Mikel he has had the problem since before Christmas and he has managed to play most of the games.

“He has done everything he can to play for Everton. Unfortunately the specialist in Spain hasn't been able to solve it so he has had the surgical procedure and hopefully that will be the end of it.”