Everton boss Sean Dyche is preparing to take a depleted Everton side to Aston Villa this weekend – and the squad’s fitness issues could be worsened by the concerns over Seamus Coleman. The veteran defender limped off in Ireland’s 2-0 defeat to England in the Nations League on Saturday evening and didn’t feature at all in their defeat to Greece this week.

Right back Coleman, who has played well over 400 games for the Toffees, was sent back early to Goodison Park for further assessment and for now is considered doubtful for the trip to Villa this Saturday night. His unavailability would only further heighten Dyche’s headache.

The Blues are already without full-back Nathan Patterson, who has consistently struggled with hamstring complaints, while another defender, the highly rated Jarrad Branthwaite, has missed the entirety of the beginning of the campaign. The England international has a groin injury which has kept him sidelined and Dyche admitted a behind closed doors friendly in the break was unlikely.

Striker Youssouf Chermiti is another who is set to miss the trip to B6; he was in good nick in pre-season but picked up a foot injury which required a surgical procedure. Similarly transfer deadline day signing Armando Broja, who joined from Chelsea, will be sidelined until October at least having arrived with an injury.

Everton, who have endured a wretched start to their season having lost 3-0 to Brighton, 4-0 at Tottenham and then 3-2 to Bournemouth (when 2-0 up in the 87th minute), have struggled to name a squad made up solely of senior players thus far; Dyche included a couple of youngsters from the academy last time out, including 17-year-old Harrison Armstrong.