Everton boss David Moyes has issued an injury update on four of his key players ahead of facing Liverpool in the Premier League.
The Toffees make the short journey to Anfield for the Merseyside Derby on Wednesday, with kickoff scheduled for 8pm UK time.
Everton could be without five regular starters for the midweek clash, but Moyes did provide some positive news about three of them in his pre-match press conference.
Everton injury update on key quartet ahead of Liverpool
Full-back Vitalii Mykolenko could make his return from a thigh injury if he passes a late fitness test. The Ukrainian picked up a knock while on international duty.
“We’re hopeful that he will be okay, but we still have to wait and see tomorrow exactly how he is,” Moyes said.
In a major boost, Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil have both returned to training from long-term injuries. The former injured his medial ligament in the previous Merseyside Derby in February, while the latter has been sidelined since December.
It seems, however, that Dominic Calvert-Lewin still has a way to go in his recovery, with the Scot unwilling to put a date on his potential return.
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“Both of them are coming on great,” Moyes said. “Illi is a little bit further on than Dwight at the moment but it is great that they are back in training.
“It’s helped us a little bit with having Dom out as well. Dom is the only one who is really behind it at the moment. We are just waiting on him coming back, but the rest are all getting much closer to fitness.”
Clarifying his comments on the striker, Moyes added: “He’s not behind [his own recovery schedule], just behind the others who are coming back just now. I’ve not got a date [in mind] with Dom yet [for his expected return] but he’s back and on the grass so good signs he is getting closer to it.”
Orel Mangala remains ruled out for the rest of the campaign with an ACL injury.
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