Everton have confirmed Jarrad Branthwaite has suffered a season-ending injury.
Branthwaite was stretchered off during last weekend’s Merseyside derby defeat to Liverpool after coming off worse from an innocuous challenge with Cody Gakpo.
The England international appeared visibly distraught as he left the pitch and was later seen leaving Hill Dickinson Stadium on crutches ahead of scans on the injury.
David Moyes’ side announced on Wednesday that Branthwaite is now set to miss the remainder of their campaign after receiving the results on the prognosis.
However the Blues insist that the 23-year-old did not suffer a recurrence of the same hamstring area which required corrective surgery and sidelined him for five months.
“Everton can confirm Jarrad Branthwaite sustained a hamstring injury during Sunday’s Merseyside derby,” read a club statement.
“The injury is unrelated to the hamstring area which required surgery in October, with a scan confirming no procedure is needed this time around.
“Branthwaite will now undergo rehabilitation at Finch Farm with Everton’s medical team and is unlikely to feature again this season.”