Everton centre-back Ramiro Funes Mori has declared himself fit to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

Funes Mori has not represented Everton’s first team for almost 12 months due to a serious knee injury.

The Argentine returned to action for the club’s Under-23 side against Arsenal last month, however, and also turned out for the second team against Swansea City on Monday night.

Funes Mori, who is believed to be on £40,000 a week at Everton, played the full 90 minutes at Goodison Park, and has now insisted that he is ready to return to the first-team picture.

Funes Mori told Everton’s official website:

“It felt good to play back in Goodison, to feel the pitch, the stands – I really miss it so I’m very happy.

“I’ve been training good these past weeks. Even though I wasn’t playing for the first team, I’ve been playing for the Under-23s to get the rhythm, get the tempo. I’m 100-per-cent fit to play and I’m ready for Saturday.”

Everton will be without the services of Ashley Williams against Brighton after the centre-back was sent off in the latter stages of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Burnley.

Funes Mori, despite a long spell on the sidelines, has been included in the Argentina squad that will take on Italy in a friendly later this month.