Injury rules Everton player out until start of season

Everton striker Youssef Chermiti has been ruled out of the start of the new season after undergoing minor foot surgery.

Chermiti, 20, who has impressed in friendly matches, was injured in training and manager Sean Dyche confirmed at the weekend that he would not be back until the start of the new season.

Chermiti “will now begin his rehabilitation under the care of Everton’s medical team,” the club said in a statement, according to the PA news agency.

Dyche said after Everton’s friendly win over Preston on Saturday that Chermiti’s injury “was a big blow because he had a great pre-season and looked in good shape”.

“We’ll have to wait and see, but it’s definitely not a matter of weeks, it’s going to be longer than that,” he added.