Evertonvs.Leicester

The two players were both forced off in the 1-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, and are set for lengthy spells on the sidelines.

Calvert-Lewin hobbled off inside 15 minutes clutching his hamstring, adding to the lengthy back catalogue of muscular injuries he has suffered at the club, while Mangala had to leave the field late on after a blow to his knee, leaving his side with 10 men as all substitution windows had already been used.

With Calvert-Lewin out of contract in the summer and Mangala only on loan from Lyon, there is a possibility that both players have played their last games for the club, if initial prognoses are accurate, with Moyes also stating that both injuries look bad.

That leaves Beto as Everton's only fit striker at present, with Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti both sidelined for the foreseeable future, meaning the Guinea-Bissau international could finally get the run of games in the team he has not been afforded since joining from Udinese 18 months ago.

Mangala will be a big miss in midfield, with Everton also severely lacking in numbers in that area of the pitch, so Moyes will be hopeful James Garner has had enough time in training to build up his match fitness after three months out with a back injury.

Garner came off the bench at Brighton last weekend, but midfield partner Tim Iroegbunam is still not back in contention after missing a similar amount of time with a foot injury.

Another player set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines is Dwight McNeil, who has already missed the last two months of action, but is now due to see a specialist about potentially undergoing knee surgery, after making little progress in his recovery.

Everton have still not made any additions to their squad this month, but the emergence of Jake O'Brien will feel like one, as the towering defender has taken to Premier League football quickly, and performed excellently at right-back against Kaoru Mitoma last weekend.

Another player in fine form is Iliman Ndiaye, and he has excelled in the Everton team since scoring his first Premier League goal for the club in the reverse fixture back in September, since reaching five league goals, and seven in all competitions, comfortably sitting as their top scorer.

Everton possible starting lineup:

Pickford; O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Lindstrom, Gueye, Garner, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Beto

Written by

Andrew Delaney