Everton could have a host of injury troubles in the middle of the park ahead of the Premier League returning, with Crystal Palace up first for the Toffees.
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Everton are preparing to face Crystal Palace this weekend, and two players have been ruled out for the home side.
The Toffees have some injury issues heading into their opening game of the campaign, but David Moyes should still have plenty of options to choose from.
Everton now have a reasonable amount of depth in most areas of the pitch, except at right-back, a position they so desperately need to strengthen.
Moyes' side recently added Brennan Johnson to the squad, and he'll be hoping to start against his former club Crystal Palace this weekend. Dwight McNeil could line up against his former club too, as he was recently named in the starting XI during pre-season after his move from Everton.
The Toffees will be without two midfielder options, however, but Palace have been dealt a potential blow too.
Everton duo ruled out of Palace game
According to The Times journalist Paul Joyce, both Christian Norgaard and James Garner will miss Everton's game against Palace due to injury.
Garner was perhaps the most expected after he underwent surgery, missing the whole of pre-season.
Norgaard might not be a huge surprise to supporters either. He is yet to feature for the Toffees so far during pre-season, and hasn't been spotted in training via the club's media yet.
It would have been nice to at least see Norgaard involved in some capacity, but it appears he remains on the treatment table heading into the weekend.
Joyce doesn't mention Tim Iroegbunam, but the midfielder has been injured of late and could miss out.
Palace dealt injury blow
Crystal Palace have also been dealt a potential injury blow ahead of this weekend's game.
Journalist Bobby Manzi shared a video that was posted on Palace's socials that showed goalkeeper Dean Henderson limping in the background. Henderson was forced off during Palace's final pre-season friendly against Freiburg last time out, and appears to be suffering since.
Manzi later added that Palace have now deleted the video, perhaps looking to avoid Everton receiving any early injury news.
It certainly doesn't look like a slight limp from Henderson, especially considering the footage was likely a couple of days after the game. The goalkeeper does appear to be geniunely struggling to walk, and it'll be interesting to see whether he's able to shake that off before the game against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.