Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina are both set to face a sustained period on the sidelines after picking up injuries in the first game of the season.
Godfrey was stretchered off after 15 minutes following a tackle in front of the Gwladys Street end. Mina left the pitch during the second half with an issue suffered off-the-ball. Both players had serious injuries last season.
Following the game, which Everton lost 1-0 to Chelsea, Blues boss Frank Lampard simply said: "When it rains, it pours." Everton have been linked with Conor Coady in recent days and, with the Wolves centre back left out of his side's starting line-up today, finding another centre back may move up the list of priorities for Lampard in the final weeks of the transfer window.
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Everton's last campaign was blighted by injuries, particularly at centre back. That problem has continued into the new season with the loss of two defenders already. Lampard said Godfrey suffered what initially appeared to be a small fracture of his leg. He was taken to hospital after being stretchered off in the early stages of the first half.
Mina, who returned to training days ago after suffering a minor injury that kept him out of Everton's final friendly with Dynamo Kyiv, pulled up with an ankle issue in the second half. Discussing the issues, Lampard said: "[Ben Godfrey's injury] feels like it is a small fracture of his leg. We are assessing that. He will be out for a while, Mina is an ankle injury and could be out for a while. When it rains, it pours." Godfrey missed the relegation run-in and Mina was only capable of playing between rests as he helped Everton secure top flight survival.
Their injuries come after Dominic Calvert-Lewin was ruled out of the opening games after suffering a knee problem on the eve of the new campaign. Seamus Coleman returned to action with the club's Under-21s on Friday night as he continues his recovery from surgery and Asmir Begovic, who missed all four pre-season games, made the bench against Chelsea.
The Blues are on the verge of signing midfielder Amadou Onana, who was in the stands and posed for pictures with supporters on Saturday, while a deal for Idrissa Gueye is thought to have reached an advanced stage. Efforts to strengthen up top were already underway before Calvert-Lewin's injury but have stepped up since. Everton battled hard but failed to cause Chelsea serious problems, though the only fit and established first team forward, Salomon Rondon, will return from suspension for the trip to Aston Villa.
On Friday Wolves manager Bruno Lage said he would "understand what is best" for Coady amid speculation Everton are interested in the defender. He said he was unsure whether the 29-year-old, who comes from Merseyside, would leave the club this summer amid suggestions he is seeking first team football in the hope of challenging for a spot in England's World Cup squad. Lage said Coady was "still my captain" but accepted he had decisions to make about his defence and left him out of the starting line-up for the club's game with Leeds United.
Mason Holgate came on for Godfrey and was impressive as he played a leading role in dealing with an onslaught of corners - a weakness of Everton's last season and during pre-season. Michael Keane and young defender Reece Welch are also available while Coleman is nearing fitness. Asked whether interest in Coady - and several other players - was genuine on Thursday, Lampard said: "It's only right and respectful not to answer on individuals."
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