Frank Lampard has confirmed Dominic Calvert-Lewin will need to be "assessed" to see if he has any chance of playing in Everton's crucial Premier League clash at home to Newcastle United on Thursday.
And Blues boss Lampard has also given an update on the fitness of midfielder Fabian Delph and defender Yerry Mina.
That duo will play no part against Newcastle and there has to be a doubt, too, over Calvert-Lewin, who is still feeling the effects of the illness that ruled him out of Sunday's 1-0 home loss to Wolves.
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Lampard, who will be without Jonjoe Kenny through suspension on Thursday, said: "Delph we’re hoping the other side of the international break. With a bit of luck we’ll integrate him into training during that period.
"Mina is still a few weeks away at best. So that one is slightly parked but he’s working very, very hard. It’s good to see.
"Dom trained lightly yesterday (Tuesday) on the back of not feeling great. We'll see how he is this afternoon and then look toward the squad for tomorrow.
"Anyone who’s had that sort of thing (illness), when it’s your profession to be on the edge and the limit physically, that’s why we have to assess it closely."
Calvert-Lewin was Everton's 21-goal top-scorer last season and started the current campaign in flying form with three goals in the first three games. But he has not scored since after being hit by injuries and now illness.
And Lampard, who confirmed his relegation-threatened side would be remaining at Finch Farm during the international break, and not travelling abroad, said: "It's frustrating because he's a top player and a really good lad.
"He wants to play and get back to the form he’s been at over the last couple of seasons, when he’s been prolific in the Premier League. It’s not easy with injuries, coming back and then there’s another one.
"I walked into that situation. So my main thing with Dominic is, help him in that sense because he wants to do it, and also practically on the pitch because he wants to get fitter and stronger because he’s had these setbacks.
"That’s so important to us because the way we want to play, and what we demand off a striker is a lot. It’s not just goals, it’s everything with and without the ball.
"He'll need that little period of time getting fit, but we haven't got loads of time. We need him soon."
