Ronald Koeman has refused to discount Leighton Baines making his Everton comeback during Sunday’s visit of West Ham.
Baines last featured for the Blues in mid-September after suffering a hamstring injury during a behind-closed-doors friendly with Wigan Athletic.
Since the setback, the defender has missed Everton’s last four games and their back-to-back away trips to Manchester City and Burnley.
But speaking after last weekend’s defeat at Turf Moor, Koeman remained optimistic that Baines, 31, could return in time to face the Hammers.
He said: “I hope he will do some training next week and maybe he can be ready for the weekend.”