Everton must get their Premier League campaign back on track with a home test against struggling Burnley at Goodison Park on Monday afternoon.
Merseyside is a miserable place for football these days and with a lengthy injury list still blighting their progress, David Moyes' men need a win if they are to remain away from the relegation places.
With tough clashes with Manchester City and Arsenal fast approaching in the new year, there could be further troubles ahead.
Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka and Victor Anichebe are still struggling with knee injuries and fellow first team players Joseph Yobo, Jack Rodwell, Dan Gosling and Sylvain Distin are out with hamstring concerns.
The recent return of dynamic midfield pair Steven Pienaar and Leon Osman has lightened Moyes' problems, but they require the injury list to be eradicated sooner rather than later.
Phil Neville made the bench for the 1-1 draw with Sunderland on Boxing Day and the Toffees skipper may well be among the replacements again following his recovery from a long-term knee ligament injury.
Burnley, after an exceptional start to the season, are now in freefall and it seems that manager Owen Coyle simply cannot guide the Clarets to an away-day victory.
It is their inability to back their home form up which is causing major concern for last season's Championship play-off winners and, with just a single point from a possible 27 on the road, they will be praying they can turn this shocking statistic around against Everton.
Chris McCann and Martin Paterson are still out with knee injuries and should return at the end of January.
Young striker Jay Rodriguez will be back in the new year as he continues to recover from an ankle problem.
Centre-backs Steven Caldwell and Clarke Carlisle are both major doubts after picking up groin problems during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers.
Source: DSG
