Everton fear Morgan Feeney could be sidelined for the rest of the season.
The 20-year-old suffered a hamstring injury playing his first game on loan with Tranmere Rovers at the weekend.
Feeney was taken off against Bolton Wanderers in time added on at the end of the second-half on Saturday and has now returned to Finch Farm for treatment.
But the ECHO understands there are concerns that the severity of the hamstring problem could mean the under-23s captain may miss the remainder of the campaign.
Feeney sealed his loan switch to Tranmere in the closing days of last month's window with hopes high at Prenton Park that he would significantly boost their League One survival hopes.
But the two-time Premier League 2 title winner will now undergo treatment back at Everton with the concern he may be out for around three months, with Rovers' final game of the season on May 3.
