David Moyes has shared an update on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after the Everton star came off injured during the 2-0 loss at Chelsea on Saturday.
The Blues ended their four-game win-less run with a comfortable victory at Stamford Bridge, with Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto finding the back of the net before half-time.
Everton came to west London hopeful of a good result after winning three of their last four, with Dewsbury-Hall arguably the Premier League’s form player.
The midfielder had recorded three goals and two assists in the last five matches and would have been hoping to haunt Enzo Maresca’s side after being sold to the Toffees last summer.
However, his return to the Bridge came to an end after just 16 minutes, with the 27-year-old going down off the ball and clutching the back of his leg, appearing to suffer a hamstring injury.
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The Englishman was consoled by his former Chelsea captain Reece James and was able to hobble off the pitch and down the tunnel, replaced by Carlos Alcaraz.
But Moyes looked visibly concerned on the touchline and later revealed that Dewsbury-Hall was not 100 per cent going into the match.
‘I’ll find out later what it is, he had a bit of tightness already and then he felt it during the game,’ the manager told Sky Sports.
The defeat at Chelsea leaves Everton eighth in the table at the time of writing, with the Toffees set to host league leaders Arsenal next Saturday night.
The games then come thick and fast for Moyes’ men, who travel to Burnley and Nottingham Forest before kicking-off the new year at home against Brentford and Wolves.
To make matters more difficult, Everton are set to be without more key players who are heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations.
‘It will be difficult to replace [Iliman] Ndiaye and Gana [Idrissa Gueye], both are brilliant players who have done well,’ Moyes added.
‘But when you sign African players you have to accept they will go to Afcon. We want them to do well for their countries.’
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