Abdoulaye Doucoure has stepped up his recovery from a fractured foot by starting to run again.
Everton are refusing to give up hope that the midfielder could play again before the end of the season but the results of scan - which was due to take place this week - is likely to inform their decision.
Doucoure sustained the foot problem in the 1-0 win against West Bromwich Albion at the beginning of March and initial fears were that he was definitely out of the remainder of the campaign.
Carlo Ancelotti, however, has not given up on the possibility to the summer signing re-joining the team at some point during the run-in as Everton chase down European qualification.
Doucoure's foot is said to be healing well and the club have been encouraged by his return to running, but the Blues remain unsure if he will play again before the end of next month.
Everton know the boost the midfielder's return would offer at such a crunch time but they insist they must be guided by the medical advice and not rush the £20m back before he is ready.
Ancelotti's injury headaches have cleared in the past 10 days with only Doucoure and Jean-Philippe Gbamin on the sidelines.
The Everton boss could provide an update on Doucoure's progress at this press conference later this week, ahead of the visit of Aston Villa to Goodison on Saturday.
