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Everton's new signing Antolín Alcaraz could miss the opening of the season due to surgery required to deal with what's being called a persistent hernia problem.
Alcaraz missed Everton's pre-season tour in the United States because of the injury and he's not likely to be ready in time for the Toffee's opening match against Norwich City on August 17th.
The 31-year-old Paraguay defender struggled last season at Wigan with injuries, missing most of the year with a groin injury and a torn hamstring.
Alcaraz joined Everton last month as a free transfer, signing a two-year contract. He is expected to serve primarily as a back-up to the first choice pairing of Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka, but the emergence of John Stones in the pre-season, combined with this latest injury, could push him down the depth charts a bit more.