Stanley Mills was stretchered off with a serious knee injury back in January. Eleven months later there is growing optimism a return to action is in sight

Everton starlet Stanley Mills is making progress in his fightback from an horrific knee injury. The popular winger has been out of action since January but stepped up his training at the end of October, returning to the grass at Finch Farm.

He has responded well to the increase in intensity and is attracting growing interest from clubs tracking his availability for a possible loan deal in January.

Mills, who turned 21 in October, has impressed medics with his resilience and perseverance since suffering the injury while on loan at Oxford United.

READ MORE: Sam Allardyce issues Everton takeover request and names what was ‘unlike’ Sean DycheREAD MORE: Everton forward signs first professional contract after stunning startThe youngster was enjoying a positive first spell away from the Blues when he was stretchered off in the club’s FA Cup third-round clash with Coventry City.

The severity of the injury forced his early return to Everton, where he has since had the support of medical experts that have worked closely to build him back towards fitness.

While he is still building up his strength there is optimism that a return to action is in sight. And with that progress the interest in his services is growing.

His impact at Oxford saw his reputation soar in the Football League and as a result clubs, some as high as the Championship, are believed to be monitoring the final stages of his recovery and rehabilitation.

That the end of a long and tough journey is now in sight has come as a significant boost for Mills, who is understood to be grateful for the top-level support and care Everton have provided him with during a challenging period.

His career had been developing with excitement when disaster struck. Former Everton manager Frank Lampard was a fan, taking him with the senior squad to the USA in the summer of 2022 and then to Australia during the World Cup break that followed months later.

Between those trips Mills made his first team debut in a Carabao Cup win at Fleetwood Town during a remarkable season that also saw him hit double figures in the Under-21s.

With optimism growing that he is entering the final stages of his journey back to fitness, the player himself took to social media just days after his birthday to share his progress, posting to Instagram an image of him at Finch Farm with the caption “back on the grass”.