David Moyes has given an injury update on his squad ahead of Everton's trip to Newcastle United on Saturday
Everton midfielder Carlos Alcaraz
Everton midfielder Carlos Alcaraz(Image: Adam Davy/PA Wire)
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Everton will be without the services of Carlos Alcaraz for up to a month after the Argentine midfielder pulled up in training prior to the Blues' 1-0 defeat to Manchester United on Monday evening.
David Moyes' side will be looking to put that disappointment behind them when they head to St James' Park on Saturday afternoon to face a Newcastle United side who are a point below them in the table and have won only once in their last six matches.
But they will be making the trip without 23-year-old Alcaraz, who also missed the match against United, with Moyes admitting he had been in line to make a start.
Speaking to reporters in his pre-match press conference on Friday morning, Moyes confirmed the midfielder's absence. He said: "Charly Alcaraz has got an injury which is probably going to keep him out for three or four weeks, we think.
"He picked it up in the last minute in training on Sunday, so he was a bit unfortunate [because] he probably would have started on Monday night [against Manchester United] if he hadn't picked up the injury."
Alcaraz joins fellow midfielder Jack Grealish as the only injured players in the Everton squad at present. Defender Jake O'Brien served a one-match suspension against the Red Devils on Monday but is now back in contention and will be expected to start the match at St James' Park at right-back.
Speaking about the Irishman, Moyes said: "I think at times we've been short in that area. But Jake O'Brien's done a great job for us. I think when I came in, just over a year ago now, everybody was looking for Jake to be in the team. We got him in the team and he's done a great job at right-back, really."
The Everton manager's assessment of the prospects of Adam Aznou, Tyler Dibling and Merlin Rohl breaking into the team was somewhat blunter.
"Some are close, some are not so close," he said. "We're trying to keep our ambitions going and see if we can be near the top and stay in the top half of the league. If we're lucky we may have a chance of making Europe, so I want to play the players who have the best chance of getting us those results."
When asked what the trio needed to do to push themselves into first team reckoning, he added: "Improve."
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