Everton are not able to put an exact timeframe on Jean-Philippe Gbamin's return to action but Carlo Ancelotti says the midfielder is "not far" away from training with the squad.
Gbamin is back at Finch Farm to step-up his recovery from an Anchilles injury sustained in late May which came after he required two bouts of surgery on a troublesome thigh problem.
The 25-year-old has made only two appearances since signing from Mainz in the summer of 2019 but is closing in on a comeback after almost 18 months of injury hell.
Ancelotti is also without summer signing Allan until the end of the month after the Brazilian damaged his hamstring against Leicester City in mid-December.
"He is at the training ground," Ancelotti confirmed of Gbmain.
"He is working individually
"He has been out for a long, long time and had two big injuries so we need to take care of him and try to get him in the best condition.
"He is doing individual sessions and he is doing well but I can't say to you when he will start with the team. But he is not far to start with the team."
Everton expect to have Alex Iwobi back for next weekend's FA Cup third round tie with Rotherham while Michael Keane, who was on the bench against West Ham, is fit despite a hamstring issue that would have kept him out of the Man City game.
