Krasnodar FK vs Everton preview - Mirallas faces spell on sidelines

Posted Thursday, October 02, 2014 by PA

Everton winger Kevin Mirallas is facing "a while" on the sidelines due to his hamstring injury, Toffees boss Roberto Martinez has revealed.

Mirallas sustained the problem in Saturday's Merseyside derby at Anfield, the Belgium international having to come off in the first half of the Barclays Premier League contest, which ended 1-1.

Martinez had already admitted the signs were "not great" with regard to the problem as Everton waited to learn the full extent of it.

And when asked about Mirallas on Wednesday in Russia ahead of his side's Europa League Group H clash with FK Krasnodar, Martinez said: "At the moment it is still a bit early because the inflammation in the area doesn't allow us to get the full extent.

"But clearly it is an injury that will keep him out for a while.

"We are just going to make sure in the next 48 hours we get the clear diagnosis for it."

Along with Mirallas, midfielder James McCarthy and full-back Seamus Coleman are among those to have not travelled with the Everton squad for Thursday's game.

McCarthy has felt tightness in his quads following the match on Saturday, while Coleman, absent for the last three fixtures after sustaining a head injury, is now nursing a soft tissue problem.

However, both could possibly be in contention for Sunday's league trip to Manchester United.

The same applies to Sylvain Distin (rested) and Steven Pienaar (quad), two others missing from the party for Thursday's game.

Ross Barkley (knee) and Arouna Kone, recently back involved after a long-term knee injury, are also absentees.

In terms of those who are included, Martinez has selected a trio of youngsters in Tyias Browning, Luke Garbutt and Ryan Ledson, while in Samuel Eto'o and Aiden McGeady, he has two players in the group who have experience of playing for Russian clubs - Anzhi Makhachkala and Spartiak Moscow respectively.

Martinez admits he has tried to utilise the pair's knowledge.

"It helps that Samuel Eto'o and Aiden McGeady have played in the league," Martinez said.

"It gives you a bit of an understanding of what you will face.

"When you come to an unknown environment like the one we have now, I think you can embrace it when you have a little bit of detail from some of the players.

"The word is that the Russian league is exciting, there is a lot of investment behind it and the teams are developing really strongly.

"We are not going to underestimate the game tomorrow. It has been clear for the players, having that insight from Aiden and Samuel - it has helped us to look forward and embrace the challenge tomorrow."

Everton are top of Group H having won their pool opener 4-1 at home against Germans Wolfsburg. Krasnodar began with a 1-1 draw with Lille in France.