**Everton are set to be without Merlin Rohl after he joined the club’s injury list.**
Rohl moved to Hill Dickinson Stadium on deadline day in a season-long loan from Freiburg and had made four substitute appearances for David Moyes’ side.
But the midfielder is a confirmed absence for the Blues’ trip to Manchester United on Monday after undergoing an operation on a hernia issue earlier this week.
He becomes the third player from Moyes’ squad to go under the knife of late after defensive duo Jarrad Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson both required surgery.
“Unfortunately, Merlin had an operation a week last Monday on his hernia,” confirmed the Everton manager.
“It’s going to keep him out for a few weeks.
“Hopefully by the time we get around to December, he’ll be fit and ready to go again.”
Rohl’s anticipated return will coincide with Everton losing both Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye as part of Senegal’s involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Moyes conceded that the pair’s absences could play a role in his January transfer plans but shot down reports of a move for Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay.
He added: “The reality is I would never talk about other players but if you’re talking about £60 million, I don’t think we’re quite at that level yet.
“We’re working towards it, we’re trying to build ourselves back up, and get on solid ground again.
“We’ve done that with the new owners, new stadium and staying up last year, but we have to make sure we go steady. I don’t think we’ll be shooting for the stars straight away.
“That’s not to say it might not happen, but my gut feeling is that it’s not a market we’ll be in.”