Everton take on Tottenham Hotspur this weekend and the Lilywhites are already suffering some major injury worries ahead of their trip to Merseyside.
Although results have not exactly been where David Moyes would have hoped, a win on Sunday would take the Blues level on points with Spurs.
There will be one big boost for Everton this week as Jack Grealish will return to the fold following his absence against his parent club on Saturday.
Of course, Everton were hit with the huge blow as Jarrad Branthwaite undergoes surgery on his injury setback this week.
It is the last thing which Everton fans would have wanted to hear to kick off the new week, but the Toffees have also seen this weekend’s opposition hit with their own issues.
On Tuesday morning, a significant injury update was shared out of Hotspur Way as Spurs prepare for their Champions League trip to Monaco.
Tottenham handed double injury blow ahead of Everton trip
Everton are currently without Nathan Patterson following his own issue picked up during the international break.
And it is in defence where Tottenham are also suffering, with two players expected to miss their midweek game against Monaco on Wednesday.
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During their open training session, neither Cristian Romero nor Destiny Udogie were spotted in action at Hotspur Way.
The pair returned from their respective international duties and neither featured in their loss to Aston Villa on Sunday.
Captain Romero was withdrawn from the starting XI during the warm-up and Udogie was not named in the squad.
Grealish will return for Everton against Spurs and the Englishman will be licking his lips at the prospect of facing an injury-stricken defence.
Whether either of the players can return in time for the game at the weekend remains to be seen, but it looks clear neither are fit enough to play in Europe on Wednesday.
Everton could exploit Tottenham weakness without Cristian Romero
Spurs also lost at the weekend in another home defeat against an Aston Villa side that has not exactly been firing this season.
After losing Romero during the warm-up, Frank admitted Udogie was also suffering with a minor issue.
“He came back from international duty with a minor irritation in the knee, so that just keeps him out for this game,” Frank said ahead of the game.
However, it is Romero who the Lilywhites will miss if he is to miss the game at the weekend on Merseyside.
Without Romero, Spurs have won just 24% of the last 25 Premier League games where the World Cup-winner has been absent.
There is a real opportunity for Everton to win back-to-back home games against Spurs this weekend.