Everton are nurturing Oumar Niasse back to full fitness in anticipation of offloading the striker in the January transfer window.
Niasse remains confined to the wilderness with the Blues’ under-23 side after failing to feature in Ronald Koeman’s first-team plans for this season.
The Senegal striker has excelled for David Unsworth’s side but is currently is struggling with a hamstring problem ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Hertha Berlin.
But Everton are wary of risking Niasse in the Premier League International Cup tie at Goodison Park with a potential exit in the offing.
“Oumar is training with us but he’s picked up a little hamstring injury and he’s just coming back,” said Unsworth.
“He might be involved on Wednesday, if not then the next game, and he’s worked really hard to come back but we’ve just to be careful, nursing him back.
“There’s no rush with him, we don’t have to rush him back. We can give him that extra day or two or week to fully recover.”
Niasse, a £13.5 million arrival from Lokamotiv Moscow in February, has attracted interest from across Europe but Turkey appears the most likely final destination.
Earlier this month he allegedly made a bizarre come-and-get-me plea to Galatasaray in efforts to convince them to sign him in January.
The Turkish giants’ domestic rivals Trabzonspor have also been credited with a possible move.