Phil Neville's return from injury has been dealt a further blow after David Moyes confirmed that the Everton captain will undergo minor surgery.
The Blues boss revealed that his skipper will go under the knife to correct the knee problem but his comeback date will be delayed by several weeks.
Neville, 32, was expected to be available for tomorrow night's Barclays Premier League game with Hull City after he suffered the injury in the 2-1 defeat to Fulham in September.
Moyes said: "Phil has got a bit of a cartilage tear that has got slightly bigger so we feel we have to do something.
"We were probably expecting Phil to have maybe started against Manchester United [last Saturday] or Hull or maybe Liverpool but it now looks like he is going to be out for another two or three weeks."
Everton travel to the KC Stadium with a depleted squad and Moyes is feeling the strain of injuries with five first-team regulars joining Neville on the casualty list.
"I'm sure everyone has opinions about what we can do but take it from me I'm trying everything I can to find something which might work better," he added.
"We have no wide players right now and we have players who have to come out as we feel we have overplayed them.
"We are trying to introduce new players to the team as well but we have also got suspensions, which you get.
"When you get a job in the Premier League it is all about trying to get sides who can win games.
"At the moment it is a struggle but in the past we have done it and I'm sure we will do it again.
"It is by far the worst injury list I have had as a manager but what's the point in me coming out and saying that?
"I'm sure there are managers who have had far more than me. You just have to get on with it and we will do it.
"I think Baz [head physio Mick Rathbone] is in a clinic for depression at the moment. It has been a tough time for the medical team.
"The disappointing thing is there isn't anyone really on the horizon. It is not as if there are all these injured players ready to ride over the hill and bail us out.
"That is why it is far better concentrating on the fit ones and demanding of them to play better than they are at the moment."
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