The Spaniard, who has been sidelined since tearing cruciate ligaments at Newcastle in February, is expected to return early in the new campaign.

He has been badly missed by Everton, who travel to Rochdale for a friendly tomorrow, but has been ruled out of being fit for the start of the season.

The 27-year-old has now suffered three serious injuries to the same knee and says it is vital he is fully rehabilitated before throwing himself into first-team action.

Arteta said: "It's going well. It has been a long injury, six or seven months out, so there are always ups and downs during that period.

"But it looks good and it's reacting well to the treatment we are doing. Slowly, day by day, I know it is getting better and that makes me happy.

"You learn with this injury that the knee reacts differently every day. I'm doing everything, working six, seven, eight hours a day on my knee to get back as soon as possible.

"Obviously I want to hurry but I know that is a big risk. I don't want to set any dates, I just want to go day by day. If it's the first game (of the season), it's the first game. If it's the fifth game, it's the fifth game. It will be whichever it is."