Everton forward Ellis Simms has been dealt a fresh injury blow.
Simms is currently on loan at Championship outfit Sunderland. The 21-year-old has enjoyed an impressive start to the season with three goals in eight appearances so far.
However, before the international break, the Blues youngster suffered a toe injury that halted his progress. Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray admitted at the time of the injury that he hoped it wasn’t serious and that the player would be fit to return this weekend.
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In a fresh update, though, Mowbray has confirmed that Simms has suffered ligament damage to his toe, and has not yet recovered in time to take on Preston at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. And he went on to say that the striker will now be assessed by Everton.
“We’d hoped he (Simms) might be alright after this international break,” Mowbray told the Northern Echo . “But that’s not going to be the case.
“We did say it would depend on how it developed. He’s had scans and X-rays, and it might be the case now that Everton want to do that as well.
“Our diagnosis is that there seems to be some ligament damage on his big toe – it doesn’t look like he’s ready to play for us this weekend.
“We’ll wait and see what Everton want to do and what their assessment is. Ultimately, it will always be the parent club who guide these decisions.
“It’s his big toe, and I know from 20 years of playing that it can be a sore injury and if it’s affecting you running, it’s very difficult.”
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