Abdoulaye Doucoure has joined Everton's growing injury list after the midfielder picked up a knock against Aston Villa.
The 29-year-old was replaced just after the half hour mark - and moments after Danny Ings had opened the scoring for the home side.
It was another blow for Frank Lampard, who has already lost Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Yerry Mina and Ben Godfrey to long-term injuries this month.
LIVE UPDATES: Aston Villa vs Everton score and commentary stream
READ MORE: Stunning new footage of Everton stadium emerges after big update
The Blues boss had continued with what was already a makeshift midfield partnership of Doucoure and Alex Iwobi. The pair started with Lampard's options in that area already limited.
Doucoure was replaced by Tom Davies - himself only just back from an injury that disrupted the end of his pre-season. Everton explained the absence of Allan, another central midfield option, was due to a "minor knock".
Neither Andre Gomes nor Jean-Philippe Gbamin - both of whom also missed the end of pre-season with injuries - made the squad. Promising central midfielder Lewis Warrington had played for the club's Under-21s at Tottenham Hotspur on Friday night.
Lampard has been vocal about his need to strengthen in midfield and new recruit Amadou Onana started on the bench against Villa. Further reinforcements are expected, though efforts to bring Idrissa Gueye back to Merseyside from Paris St Germain have been held up in recent weeks.
READ NEXT:
- Frank Lampard gives Ben Godfrey Everton injury update and makes World Cup 'buffer' claim
- Frank Lampard details Steven Gerrard phone call during Everton relegation battle
- Alex Iwobi could complete Everton contract U-turn after becoming undroppable
- Everton boss Frank Lampard makes Steven Gerrard claim ahead of first managerial clash
- Frank Lampard makes Everton transfer admission and responds to Idrissa Gueye question
