Klaassen and Sandro missing as Everton bid to reach group stage

HADJUK SPLIT (0)

V EVERTON (2)

Everton will bid to reach the Europa League group stage without two of their major summer signings.

Midfielder Davy Klaassen and striker Sandro Ramirez have not travelled with the squad to Croatia for tonight’s play-off second leg against Hajduk Split.

Everton manager Ronald Koeman confirmed that Klaassen is sidelined due to a foot injury, while Sandro remains troubled by a heel problem.

“Sandro did not travel and neither has Davy Klaassen, who got a knock on his foot,” Koeman said.

“Davy will be out for at least one week, but he will be fit after the international break. Sandro is a doubt for Sunday’s game [against Chelsea].”

Everton hold a 2-0 lead from the first leg after goals by Michael Keane and Idrissa Gana Gueye at Goodison Park.

Koeman said he will decide this morning whether to start the club’s record signing Gylfi Sigurdsson, who made his debut as a substitute against Manchester City on Monday.

“I need to make the decision,” Koeman added. “We have one more session, then I will make that decision on Thursday morning.”

Everton face a Hajduk side going well in their domestic league, and Toffees skipper Phil Jagielka is ready for an “intense” encounter.

“I am sure there will be some atmosphere here – it will be a little bit nervy, a little bit edgy and maybe backs to the wall at times,” he told www.evertonfc. com. “Hopefully that won’t be the case, and we can get a goal or two to calm things down.

“But if it does get to that stage, we have enough experience, enough good defenders and good characters in there to, hopefully, see the job through and look forward to the start of the real European campaign.”

0 Davy Klaassen: Foot injury.