Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed a potential fresh setback for Everton summer signing Jean-Philippe Gbamin.
The midfielder joined the club from Mainz in August, but only played 135 minutes of Premier League football before picking up a thigh injury ahead of the third match of the campaign against Aston Villa.
The 24-year-old has already had one round of surgery on the issue, and looked to be easing his way back into training with his teammates in recent weeks.
However, Ancelotti confirmed there could be another procedure in the next few days for Gbamin.
The manager told his pre-Watford press conference: "Gbamin unfortunately had a problem. He had a check with the English doctor and in the next few days maybe he needs another surgery to try to recover him before the end of the season.
"We hope to see him before the end of the season."
On Thursday it was confirmed Everton had been dealt a triple injury boost ahead of this Saturday's trip to Watford.
Richarlison, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Alex Iwobi are all available for selection once more and have been working with the team during their extended break from action.
Andre Gomes has also been back training with his teammates over the last few days, and the manager also revealed the plan to get the Portugal international back in action.
Every word Ancelotti said in deadline day press conference including Niasse and Martina HERE
"I think it was a good period because we worked with almost all of the players, because we had only Gbamin out," he added.
"Sigurdsson came back, he had the possibility to recover well, Andre Gomes, Richarlison - so the squad is fit and is in a good physical condition.
"Andre Gomes I think did a fantastic recovery because he's almost fit. Of course we have to take care of him, we have to consider that after the game against Crystal Palace we have a break and so in that period we have a possibility to prepare him well for the game against Arsenal.
"This is the plan. I was not here when he was injured but he had a really bad injury. I think the work the staff did on him was fantastic.
"I was surprised because he started training with the team without any problem, this is really good news. Maybe we can consider him a new player for the transfer market!"
