Fresh team news has been provided for Leeds United’s Monday night clash at Everton - for which blows have left ten players either doubtful or out.
The Whites and Toffees have both been on good runs of late and both enjoyed big 1-0 victories last weekend.
Daniel Farke’s Whites left it late but Lukas Nmecha’s 91st-minute strike ultimately sealed a hugely important victory at home to Saturday’s visitors Fulham which kept Leeds eight points clear of the dropzone.
Everton then looked to be facing a very tall order indeed the following day at a highflying Aston Villa side who had the chance to move second but Thierno Barry’s strike just before the hour mark sealed a big away win that sent the Toffees into tenth.
The team’s recent progress has also been achieved despite a chunk of injuries which Leeds also overcame to record their latest success against Fulham.
Key men will now be back available for Monday night’s clash at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium but nine players are either doubtful or out including one of the biggest names of the lot after news of a huge fresh blow this week.
Whites boss Farke then provided his latest team news at Thursday afternoon’s pre-match press conference and, here, we run through the injury news from both camps.
1. DOUBT: Charly Alzaraz.
Everton's Argentinian youth international attacking midfielder Alcaraz has missed his side's last five games with a knock/unspecified injury but boss David Moyes revealed at Friday's pre-match press conference that the 23-year-old was one of three previously injured Toffees players who had now returned to training. That said, after five games out, there would naturally be an element of doubt as to how much he will feature. | AFP via Getty Images
2. DOUBT: Jarrad Branthwaite
Everton's England-capped centre-back Branthwaite has not featured all season due to a serious hamstring injury yet Moyes said even ahead of last weekend's trip to Aston Villa that both Branthwaite and the previously injured Seamus Coleman were "back on the grass” and “back in amongst it". Moyes then confirmed at Friday's pre-Leeds press conference that Branthwaite had returned to training. Like Alcaraz, though, still a doubt as to how much he will feature. | Getty Images
3. DOUBT: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Another with England caps, Everton midfielder Dewsbury-Hall suffered a hamstring injury in last month's clash against Chelsea and has been sidelined since but he too was confirmed on Friday as being one of the three Everton players back in training. Moyes, though, made a point of highlighting how Dewsbury-Hall was "only just back in" so he might be considered the biggest doubt. | Getty Images
4. DOUBT: Anton Stach
United's German midfielder Stach missed last weekend's hosting of Fulham with an adductor injury but Farke said afterwards that he hoped Stach would be back to face Everton. Farke confirmed on Thursday that Stach had been part integrated into team training with no reaction and that he could be available to face the Toffees. A wait and see it appears and still an element of doubt. | AFP via Getty Images
5. DOUBT: Gabi Gudmundsson
A big one and a wait and see, Farke revealing on Thursday that Gudmundsson was experiencing adductor problems and had to be left out of training. Farke admitted that left a "little question mark over his availability" to face the Toffees. Gudmundsson has looked a class act ever since signing and his participation or otherwise could be key, especially without natural cover. | Getty Images
6. BACK: Iliman Ndiaye
Senegal international winger Ndiaye is one of two Everton players now back available after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, both with winners' medals around their necks. With four goals and two assists to his name so far this season, Ndiaye's return is a particularly big boost for the Toffees. That said, Moyes did reveal on Friday that Ndiaye and Senegal teammate Idrissa Gueye were only back in the building and would be checked over the weekend. | AFP via Getty Images