Manuel Fernandes hints at Benfica return

Fit-again midfielder aims to help Everton secure UEFA spot

Portuguese midfielder Manuel Fernandes has said that he may be ready for a return to Benfica.

The future of the Everton midfielder has not yet been decided, but the 21-year-old says that he will accept whatever outcome, even hinting that he would be happy to return to the Estadio da Luz for next season.

“If I stay here I will be very happy, but if I don’t I will also be happy because I will be going home and I will have had a great experience here.”

Meanwhile, the Portugal international has returned from injury and says he hopes to help Everton secure fifth place, ahead of a tough Premiership end of season run-in for the Toffees.

The Benfica-owned Portuguese has made a big impact since arriving in Merseyside in January, but a thigh injury and illness has kept him out of his side’s last four games. However, Fernandes is fully fit and raring to go ahead of Everton’s trip to West Ham on Saturday.

“I am okay now and I hope to be involved against West Ham,” he said. “Things were going well and it wasn’t the best moment for me to get an injury and to be sick.”

“I’m over that now, my illness is gone, I am getting better from my thigh strain and I hope to play against West Ham.”

Four cup finals

“The four games we have left will be like cup finals because they are all against teams who have something to play for.”

“West Ham are fighting to stay up, Chelsea and Manchester United are going for the Championship, while Portsmouth are battling with us for Europe.”

“We are in fifth place now and we deserve to be there because we are one of the top five teams in England at the moment- no doubt about it.”

“We are five points behind Arsenal and anything is possible because they have not been so consistent recently. But first of all we need to secure a UEFA Cup place before we worry about anything else.”