Abdoulaye Doucoure has joined Everton’s growing list of injuries.
Doucoure suffered a broken foot during last weekend’s defeat to West Ham United and is now expected to be sidelined for between six and seven weeks.
The midfielder’s spell on the sidelines curbs an impressive start for Rafael Benitez’s side, scoring twice and producing four assists in the new season.
It is the second time that Doucoure has been laid low with a foot problem, having missed two months for the Blues at the end of the previous campaign.
“Everton can confirm that Abdoulaye Doucoure has suffered a stress response in a bone in his foot sustained during Sunday’s match against West Ham United,” read a club statement.
“The French midfielder is being assessed by the club’s medical team at USM Finch Farm and is undergoing further investigation to determine the full extent of the injury.
“Contrary to reports, Doucoure will not require an operation.”
Doucoure becomes the fifth casualty at Goodison Park, joining Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and fellow midfielders Andre Gomes and Fabian Delph.
Calvert-Lewin has not featured for Everton since their victory at Brighton at the end of August due to picking up a combination of toe and thigh injuries.
Richarlison could feature against former club Watford on Saturday should he recover in time from a knee injury sustained in last month’s win over Burnley.