Carlo Ancelotti has explained the recent absences of Joshua King and revealed that Everton will wait until the end of the season to discuss a potential new contract with the forward.
The Norway international arrived on Merseyside from Bournemouth late in the January transfer window, but is still waiting to make his first start for the Blues.
However, the manager has now revealed that an injury problem has restricted the 29-year-old recently - although he is now back in training with his teammates.
Ancelotti remarked: "In the last few weeks he had a small problem on his back and so was not available to train properly. He was back today after two days off, but his condition is quite good.
"He didn't have a possibility to play a lot for my technical decision, because there we have a lot of options. He played some part of the games and was good, I have to say.
"In training he's absolutely ok, really serious and really professional."
King signed a short-term deal with Everton in January, and rumours have already started about the forward's long term future.
Ancelotti has confirmed that the Blues will wait until the summer to decide whether or not the former Bournemouth man will stay at the club.
"I think at the end of the season we are going to talk about if he can stay, if he can have a new contract with us or not," the manager added.
"We have to take a decision at the end of the season."
Everton take on Aston Villa on Saturday evening at Goodison Park and are set to have a fairly fit squad, with only two players in Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Abdoulaye Doucoure missing through injury.
Yerry Mina, who returned against Arsenal last week from the bench, is fully available again and could potentially be back in the starting lineup.
Ancelotti confirmed: "The update is that all the players are available apart from Gbamin and Doucoure.
"The others are all good.
"He [Mina] is good, he came back from an injury and so he didn't play against Arsenal for this reason. He trained before the game for only two days with the team.
"He's back, he's in a good condition and ready to play."
