Right-back Seamus Coleman is a major doubt for Everton's Premier League clash with Sunderland on Sunday because of a stomach bug.
Midfielder Gareth Barry returns from suspension while goalkeeper Tim Howard will be among the players to come back in after manager Roberto Martinez shuffled his pack for the Capital One Cup win over Norwich in midweek.
Left-back Leighton Baines and midfielder Muhamed Besic were both set to return to full training on Friday as they work their way back to match fitness while captain Phil Jagielka remains sidelined by a knee injury.
Besic’s return is also good news for Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of their European Championships play-off against Ireland next Friday night, by which time Coleman should have recovered from his illness to line out for Ireland.
Meanwhile Martinez declined to comment on claims from Romelu Lukaku’s agent that the Toffees would sell the striker if the right offer came in.
Mino Raiola reportedly told a French radio station they had been given Martinez’s blessing amid rumours of interest from Paris St Germain.
But the Spaniard was unwilling to go into the issue, saying: “I’m not here to try to do the job of agent.
“I’m not going to entertain any sort of rumours and speculation. I have to do that during the transfer window, against my wishes, so as you can understand I’m quite happy now not to go into any comments.”
Club-record signing Lukaku, 22, has made a good start to the season after an up-and-down first campaign as a permanent Everton player, scoring seven goals in 13 appearances.
Martinez said: “With Romelu, it has been a joy to see him growing and developing from a very young age.
“He’s had a very important role with us and now I feel he’s in the perfect moment to kick on and even take more responsibility on the pitch.
“All that matters to everyone at Everton is Romelu can keep fulfilling that role, keep enjoying his football and being very important for the team.”
