Soccer

Injuries mount for Everton as Liverpool loom

Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy are joined by Argentine defender Funes Mori

Everton were left counting the cost of another injury during the international break after Argentina defender Ramiro Funes Mori was carried off in their defeat against Bolivia. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA

Wed Mar 29 2017 - 11:41

Everton were left counting the cost of another injury during the international break after Argentina defender Ramiro Funes Mori was carried off.

The centre-back was shown holding his left knee as he left the pitch after only 36 minutes of Argentina’s 2-0 defeat by Bolivia on Tuesday evening.

The Toffees have already seen Seamus Coleman sidelined until next season with a horrific leg break suffered during the Republic of Ireland's draw with Wales last Friday.

Midfielder James McCarthy, meanwhile, did not even make it to kick-off in Dublin after aggravating a hamstring problem in the warm-up.

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Funes Mori has made 26 appearances for Everton this season, but lost his place to Phil Jagielka for the last two Premier League matches against West Brom and Hull.

The injuries are particularly bad timing for boss Ronald Koeman, with a run of nine wins from 15 games drawing them level on 50 points with sixth-placed Arsenal.

Everton return to league action on Sunday in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool at Anfield.

Another of Everton’s injured men, winger Yannick Bolasie, believes Coleman can come back a better player.

Bolasie needed two knee operations after suffering a serious injury in December and will be sidelined well into next season.

He told Sky Sports News: “Everyone’s just showing great support. The club have been supportive with me, especially the manager and staff, so I’m sure it’s going to be the same outcome for him. He’s a strong character so I can see him coming back better.”

It had been reported Bolasie could be out until 2018 after undergoing surgery first to repair his meniscus and then the cruciate ligament.

But the 27-year-old is optimistic he will be back sooner.

He said: “I’m seeing the light right now. I’m in a good place with rehab. I can’t actually put any time schedule down, but I’m pretty confident that I’ll be back before 2017 ends, that’s for sure.”

Bolasie seems less optimistic, though, about the chances of Everton hanging on to star striker Romelu Lukaku.

The Premier League’s leading scorer has told Everton he will not sign a new contract and leading clubs in England and beyond are circling.

Bolasie said: “I speak to Rom every day. When a man has his plan, he has his plan, you can’t really stop that.

“A player’s got ambitions. The best players, they want to play in the highest team possible and Rom right now is a world-class striker and there aren’t many about like him. But I’m sure Everton are going to find a way to deal with it.”

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