Everton are currently missing Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye, whose decisive goal against Mali has further extended Senegal’s stay at the Africa Cup of Nations. The Blues have been without both players for a month - with the key duo's last appearances for the club being in the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on December 13.

Ndiaye had started every Premier League match until his departure for the tournament in Morocco while fellow midfielder Gueye had only missed three games after his controversial sending off at Manchester United.

And with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also sidelined with a hamstring injury, their absence has been and continues to be strongly felt by Everton, whose hopes of European football, via the FA Cup or Premier League, has dipped after a difficult week at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Blues were...