Everton forward Demarai Gray has suffered an abductor injury and could spend six weeks on the sidelines, according to El Bobble.
The reliable Everton insider – followed on Twitter by The Times journalist Paul Joyce – posted the update on their account late on Monday afternoon.
Gray was withdrawn 17 minutes into the 3-0 defeat against Manchester City on Sunday, and he could be out of action for the year going by the initial prognosis.
El Bobble said: “Everton’s Demarai Gray who was substituted early at Manchester City on Sunday, has suffered an abductor injury.
“Early indications suggest the winger could be out for up to six weeks.”
The Toffees now have four key players out injured, with Gray joining Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Yerry Mina, and Abdoulaye Doucoure on the treatment table, and Rafa Benitez will be very worried.
The former Leicester City forward is very crucial to Everton’s counter-attacking style of play due to his speed, and it was not shocking to see them struggle against Pep Guardiola’s men.
Gray was unavailable to make his runs at the Man City defense, and he could now miss around eight games.
Everton visits Brentford next Sunday and will also be without Richarlison after the Brazilian picked up his fifth yellow card of the season.
Having lost four and drawn two of their last six games, another injury is the last thing the Toffees need.
Benitez would be forced to call on some of the club youngsters from the look of things, while Salomon Rondon and Cenk Tosun will also be getting plenty of game time.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are plotting a January loan-to-buy bid for center-mid hailed by Jack Grealish last month.
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Everton ace Alex Iwobi slammed by pundit for ‘woeful,’ ‘schoolboy football’ v Leicester
Michael Ball has slammed “woeful” Everton attacker Alex Iwobi for his “schoolboy football” in the 2-2 draw with Leicester City on Monday (1 May).
The Toffees ace was guilty of giving away possession for Leicester’s second goal of the evening, before redeeming himself by scoring the equaliser at the King Power Stadium.
The Nigeria international has been a regular for Everton this season, operating in various positions including central and right midfield, as well as on the wing.
“It’s just not on, it’s schoolboy football,” Ball wrote for the Liverpool Echo. “Just don’t play a ball squarely.
“I know it’s not Iwobi’s favored position and Dyche is playing him out wide because of his work ethic – he showed that in the second half when he sprinted back and recovered really well – but what he did in the first half was woeful and he might have been dragged off at the break given how wasteful he was in possession.
“I’ve still not seen him run at a full-back though and that’s his job in that position.”
Still hope for the Toffees
Iwobi quickly made amends for his error against the Foxes, with the midfielder showing his determination and quality to fire the ball into the back of the net at the King Power.
He can hardly be to blame for the club’s struggles this season, with Iwobi perhaps representing one of just a few players who can hold their heads high on an individual level amid a miserable campaign for Everton collectively.
The 27-year-old has proven his versatility and therefore willingness to play wherever he is asked to, with not all players at the club able to say that.
Some Toffees supporters may see the point picked up at Leicester in a positive way given how they had to come from behind, while others may judge it as points dropped given how poor the Foxes have been all season.
Despite impressing, Iwobi does, however, have just two goals to his name all season, with the attacker desperate to improve on that tally in the coming weeks.
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