Mina might miss out as trio near return

With no Cup competitions to worry about Carlo Ancelotti can spend some much needed time on the training pitches at Finch Farm whipping his Everton side into shape this week, but might have to do without injury-prone central defender Yerry Mina who looks to have picked up another issue this week.

Speaking to evertontv today ahead of his pre-match press conference tomorrow, Ancelotti mentioned that the Colombian centrehalf might need a late fitness test for Saturday’s clash.

“We have a little problem with Yerry Mina this week, he was not able to train.

“We have to see in the next few days if he will be available against West Ham.”

Everton have missed Alex Iwobi, who has been out since Christmas, but is nearing a return to training however.

“Alex Iwobi will not be ready for the match. I think next week he will be able to train with us.”

Midfield duo Andre Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin are also getting closer, with the Portuguese player returning to Finch Farm this week and photographed going through exercise drills.

“It is really important for us to have him back. It takes time to recover completely but the fact he feels good in this moment and has no pain, he’s started to work individually, is important for us.

“As soon as possible we need this kind of player, with his kind of characteristics. Everyone knows how important he is for the team.”

Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images

Gbamin meanwhile has been recovering from surgery and should be graduating from individual training to being part of the squad again. Ancelotti called for patience with the the 24-year-old, especially with speculation that he had been rushed back from injury previously leading to the tendon tear that ended up him requiring to go under the knife.

“He is doing individual sessions, he is starting to train. We have to take care of him because the injury was not so easy to recover. We have to be patient with him. He is doing individual sessions and this is important.

“I hope that soon he can train with the team. We are looking day by day, how he is improving. He is improving fast, but the problem was a big problem, so we have to be careful with him.”