Everton are sweating on the fitness of Mason Holgate after the defender missed training again today.
The Blues have been without the 23-year-old defender for the past two matches because of a shin injury picked up at Spurs over a week ago.
Holgate, who has become Everton's first-choice centre-back since Carlo Ancelotti came to the club, has been sidelined for the games with Southampton and Wolves - and remains a major doubt for Thursday's visit of relegation threatened Aston Villa.
Carlo Ancelotti will provide an update on Holgate's chances of facing Villa, when he holds a virtual press conference tomorrow afternoon (1:30).
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The Blues boss will also give greater clarity on the fitness of Andre Gomes who was ruled out of the Wolves game after picking up a knock on his ankle.
Yerry Mina was forced off after just 31 minutes of Sunday's game at Molineux with an unspecified muscle injury and it remains to be seen if he will be fit for the Villa clash or given the time to fully heal and not rushed back.
Following the Wolves game, Ancelotti said: "Yerry had a muscular problem.
“Unfortunately, when you only have two days to recover, the player doesn’t recover properly and to have an injury like this can happen.”
Ancelotti handed 18-year-old Jarrad Branthwaite his Premier League debut as a half-time sub in the match and despite a baptism of fire - where he was beaten in the air for Wovles' second goal less than a minute after coming on - he settled and played well thereafter.
"He did his job," the Everton boss said.
"He came on in a difficult game where the team was not good enough on the pitch.
"He did well. It was a good experience for him and we are counting on him for the future. He has to grow and improve but he has the quality to play with us."
