Dewsbury-Hall, Alcaraz & Ndiaye: early Everton injury news and return dates ahead of Wolves match

Everton will look to put Sunday’s disappointing defeat to Brentford behind them when they welcome Rob Edwards’ embattled Wolves side to the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Wednesday evening – but the Toffees are still expected to be without several key players due to injury and the Africa Cup of Nations.

No fewer than six players are currently out or doubts for the Premier League game, including Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Charly Alcaraz and long-term absentee Jarrad Branthwaite – but there has been good news about the fitness of other recent injury victims such as Michael Keane.

Ahead of Everton’s midweek match against Wolves, we’ve collected all of the latest injury news below alongside the stricken players’ expected return dates when available – and provided an update on the status of Everton’s African contingent as well.

When will Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall & Jarrad Branthwaite be back for Everton?

The silver lining to Everton’s 4-2 home defeat to Brentford was that both Michael Keane and Jack Grealish came through the full 90 minutes despite their respective issues with injury and illness – and with no suggestions that either player experienced any issues after the game, they appear likely to start once again when Wolves make their way to Merseyside.

There is less positive news about midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who David Moyes has said is “doing well” following a hamstring injury sustained against former side Chelsea, but who remains unavailable and is not expected to be involved on Wednesday – the away match against Aston Villa is considered a more realistic return date given the nature of the injury, but Moyes has refused to provide a precise prognosis.

There’s even less certainty over the status of Charly Alcaraz, who has missed the last two matches with an undisclosed injury. Moyes has refused to provide any updates at all on Alcaraz’s situation and it is entirely unclear whether the Argentine has any chance of being involved against Wolves.

Elsewhere, Moyes has told the media that Jarrad Branthwaite (hamstring) is “getting close” to a return and the towering centre-back is back on grass in training, but a comeback will likely wait until later in January, with the Aston Villa match the most optimistic target. Veteran full-back Séamus Coleman will be out until late January or early February with a hamstring injury of his own.

Iliman Ndiaye injured at AFCON as return delayed

Everton were given another injury problem to worry about when forward Iliman Ndiaye went down with an ankle injury during Senegal’s 3-0 win over Benin in the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco – but having missed several days of training, Ndiaye was well enough to be named on the bench for his nation’s last 16 match against Sudan, although the 25-year-old did not come on at any stage, suggesting that he remains short of full match fitness.

Unfortunately for Everton fans, Senegal beat Sudan 3-1 and have progressed to the quarter-finals, meaning that both Ndiaye and midfielder Idrissa Gueye will be in Morocco until 10 January at least – should they lose against Mali in their next match, both players should be available to face Aston Villa on 18 January.

That’s the same date as the final of this year’s edition of AFCON, meaning that if the pair are still unavailable to play against Aston Villa then they will be back in time to take on Leeds United on 26 January.