Marco Silva admits Bernard’s injury is set to be a huge blow for Everton.
Bernard suffered a grade 2 tear of his right knee ligament midway through the first half of Saturday’s eventual 3-2 defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion.
No time frame has been given by the Blues for the Brazil international’s return to action but is anticipated to spend a minimum of several weeks on the sidelines.
And Silva believes that the winger’s absence will be a significant loss to his side.
He said: “It is a blow for him, it is a blow for us as well, he is playing very well, he is helping the team, he is a very good player.
“But not just that, in my tactical point of view and our idea, he is a really important player – not just with the ball but without the ball.
“He is a really important player for my model, for our model as a technical staff. But of course, now again it is a moment for another member of the squad to come to get a chance.
“I am 100 per cent sure he will return as fast as he can. You are talking about a very good professional – a lad that takes care of himself every single day, trying to be in his best condition every single day.
“We will be as fast as we can as a club and he will do the best of himself, I am 100 per cent sure, because he has the character and the personality to do that.
“What we want is to be with him as fast as you can, but it is important for us to have him 100 per cent of his best conditions as well.”