Everton handed double injury blow with Barkley and Funes Mori sidelined

Everton have been handed a major double injury blow with news that Ross Barkley and Ramiro Funes Mori are set to miss the start of the season.

Speculation surrounding Barkley increased early last week when he was left out of the squad that travelled to Tanzania to take on Gor Mahia.

While the club reported that the midfielder had a groin injury, suspicion was rife that it was in fact a cover for him being set for a transfer away from Goodison Park after failing to sign a new contract.

However, it appears that the suspicions were unfounded as the club have confirmed the injury, reporting that the 23-year-old reporting has undergone surgery to rectify the problem.

This surgery means he will now be set to spend up to six weeks on the sidelines, meaning he is set to miss the start of the Premier League season on August 12^th. It could also mean that any potential departure will now be put on hold.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

In similarly disappointing news, Ronald Koeman has also lost centre back Ramiro Funes Mori to injury, but for a much longer period.

The Argentine has been missing since picking up a knee injury while on international duty with Argentina back in March.

He had been expected to return from that for next season but Paul Joyce is now reporting that he is set to spend up to nine months on the sidelines after further surgery on the problem.

Both injuries leave Ronald Koeman with a major problem heading into the new campaign. With Barkley out, numbers in the CAM position are low to say the least, especially with Gylfi Sigurdsson’s move yet to materialise.

Similarly at centre back he is left with Phil Jagielka and Mason Holgate as cover, with Matthew Pennington having gone to Leeds United on loan.