Dewsbury-Hall, Branthwaite & Iroegbunam: Latest Everton injury news and expected return dates

Everton face a challenging trip to Villa Park when they return to Premier League action this weekend – a match that will be made all the more difficult by a long list of potential absentees, with as many as eight players potentially unavailable through injury, suspension or international duty.

Tim Iroegbunam is the latest player to spend time on the treatment table and the midfielder is a doubt after missing the FA Cup third round defeat to Sunderland on Saturday, while Everton are still eagerly awaiting the return of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jarrad Branthwaite and Charly Alcaraz.

We’ve got all of the latest Everton injury news ahead of the match against Aston Villa below, along with updates on when the club’s Africa Cup of Nations contingent will be back at the club once more.

Will Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall be fit to face Aston Villa?

Everton have been without key attacking midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for the last six matches, after the 27-year-old sustained a serious hamstring injury against his former side Chelsea – but if his recovery is going according to plan, he should be available again soon.

David Moyes has, so far, kept his cards very close to his chest when asked about Dewsbury-Hall’s recovery, simply saying that he is “doing well” and refusing to be drawn into providing further details. Based on the initial prognosis, the game against Aston Villa on Sunday is a realistic potential return date, but that remains up in the air without further clarification from the head coach.

Moyes was, at least, a little more forthcoming when asked about Tim Iroegbunam, who was unexpectedly left out of Everton’s matchday squad as they were beaten by Sunderland on penalties. The precise nature of the issue is unclear but it was described as only a “slight injury,” and while Iroegbunam remains a doubt for this weekend there are no reports which suggest that he is expected to miss another match.

Everton’s midfield options will be further boosted by the return of Jack Grealish, who has served a one-match suspension after being shown two yellow cards against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Michael Keane, who was handed a straight red card in the same match, remains banned for two further matches, however, and will next be available for the trip to Brighton on 31 January.

Latest on Jarrad Branthwaite – and when Everton get their AFCON players back

Another injured player who could return to fitness soon is centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, who has yet to play this season due to a serious hamstring injury which required surgery – but while Moyes has confirmed that the 23-year-old is back on grass as he ramps up his rehabilitation, the Aston Villa match is likely to come too soon.

Given the information we have about Branthwaite’s return to light training and the nature of his injury, it is more likely that he will be available again at the end of January or beginning of February, but Moyes has once again refused to put a timeline on the defender’s comeback.

The same is true with Charly Alcaraz, who has missed the last four matches with an undisclosed injury. No information about the nature of the problem has been provided and it is impossible to know how close the Argentine is to a return as it stands. Everton’s only other injured player is veteran full-back Séamus Coleman, who is expected back from a hamstring injury at the end of January and could be ready to face Brighton.

Meanwhile, Everton will be without the services of Senegalese pair Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye for at least one more match after the advanced to the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. With the third-place play-off and final scheduled for the weekend, both players will miss the Aston Villa match regardless of the result of Wednesday’s game against Egypt. They should be back in time to face Leeds United next weekend.