Everton manager Ronald Koeman has confirmed that midfielder James McCarthy has suffered another hamstring injury.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder missed the Blues’ 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, with his name conspicuously missing from the substitutes bench.
His absence sparked suggestions that he had suffered another recurrence of the hamstring injury that has plagued him for much of this season.
Koeman confirmed the news following the game but insisted that his absence will only be a short one this time around.
He said: “James is again with some problems on his hamstring.
“It’s really painful for the boy by himself but also for me because I like him and we like to progress with him. We like to continue with James.
“It’s not a big hamstring maybe he will be out one or two weeks but I’m really disappointed about that. We need to deal with his fitness. We need to learn.
“I’m not a doctor but I like to learn. Another step back and it’s disappointing.”