Phil Jagielka setback for Everton ahead of Capital One Cup clash against Norwich
Everton defender Phil Jagielka could miss up to nine weeks with medial knee ligament damage, Toffees manager Roberto Martinez has confirmed.
England international Jagielka, 33, picked up the injury in the 2-1 loss at Arsenal on Saturday and although Martinez was pleased his knee cartilage and cruciate ligament remain unaffected, the Spaniard could be without his centre-back for the next two months.
"I wouldn't expect anything longer than eight to nine weeks," Martinez said when asked about the defender's recovery timetable.
Jagielka and striker Romelu Lukaku are the only players to have started every game in all competitions this season, but the former will need replacing in the line-up for Norwich's visit to Goodison Park in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday.
Martinez confirmed Joel Robles will start in goal in place of Tim Howard, as he did in the last round, while Gareth Barry's late dismissal against the Gunners rules him out through suspension - meaning three of the squad's most experienced members will not play on Tuesday.
"It's a huge miss," Martinez said of Jagielka's absence. "This campaign we've had to cope with many injuries already, especially in the back four.
"You rely on certain leaders to allow young players to come in and be able to perform. Phil's role in that has been immense and probably that's what will be missed.
"You don't want to lose your captain, you don't want to lose an influential player, but that happens in a season - you get injuries, you get suspensions and you have to cope with that.
"As a team we've got other senior players who can take over that role and that influence and that's what we need to show on Tuesday."
Jagielka's injury will likely open the door for Ramiro Funes Mori to partner John Stones at the heart of defence for an extended period, with the Argentinian having made just two starts since joining from River Plate this summer.
Martinez is confident the 24-year-old can grasp the opportunity Jagielka's injury has presented him.
"He's had a good period now to settle in, to understand the team-mates, the way we want to play and the league itself," Martinez said.
"I thought he was so impressive in all the roles he had to take from playing in the League Cup, from having to perform in a Merseyside derby, from having to come on in a difficult moment against the league leaders. I've been very, very impressed with him.
"I think he's ready. He's someone with an incredible, brave attitude - very commanding."
Norwich are to give opportunities to several fringe players, manager Alex Neil has revealed.
Saturday's 1-0 Barclays Premier League defeat by West Brom was the club's third in succession, in a run of conceding nine goals in three games, and Neil plans to experiment with his starting XI in his attempts to improve the Canaries' disappointing recent form.
Striker Dieumerci Mbokani remains a doubt, owing to illness, but midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu is among those expected to return.
"I don't think it will be wholesale changes," said Neil, 34. "There'll be a few. I'll give guys an opportunity who have trained well and deserve a chance.
"You have to make sure the guys are not thrown together, you have to give them an opportunity.
"At the weekend (defender) Ryan Bennett came in after not featuring so there are definitely places up for grabs. That is not a secret and the squad are fully aware of that.
"Results haven't been as good as we would expect so some of the other lads will get an opportunity and we'll see what happens from there.
"Dieumerci Mbokani has picked up a little bug, flu-type thing, so he has to shake that off but other than that the rest of the squad is fine. Potentially that could rule him out but we'll see how he recovers from it.
"(Youssouf Mulumbu) comes into my thoughts for Everton, along with the rest of the first-team squad. There are guys we need to get minutes because they might be required.
"The league is our bread and butter. That is the most important thing for us this year. We want to do well in the cup but if you are prioritising then the league is most important.
"I have got to have one eye on that (Saturday's visit to Manchester City). We'll give it our all but I need to balance it off to make sure we are fresh.
"Not for a second is it a case I could do without this fixture because I can give players a game.
"The lads not playing are just as important to me as the ones who are because you never know in a week or two they might be the ones called upon, so it is crucial."
Source: PAR
