Rafa Benitez suggested Lucas Digne's attitude was behind his decision to pick Seamus Coleman in a left wing-back role against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Digne was recalled to the Everton squad for the first time in four matches on Sunday after a disagreement with the manager and illness meant he missed games with Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
But the French international only made the bench, with Benitez preferring the right-footed Coleman on the left hand side.
Digne would not be brought off the bench as Benitez used only two of his permitted substitutions.
New signing Vitaliy Mykolenko was paraded in front of the Goodison crowd before kick-off and his arrival has plunged Digne's Everton future into doubt.
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Benitez says his decision to leave Digne on the bench was down to attitude.
"The most important thing for me is to have players on the pitch who want to be there, who want to fight for this club, for these fans and for their team-mates," Benitez said.
"This is the main thing. After that you have to choose the best one possible."
