MANGALA INJURY WOE

ELIAQUIM MANGALA’S Everton career may be over before it has even had a chance to get properly started after he suffered a significant knee injury.

The France international moved to Goodison Park on loan on deadline day last month, with Everton boss Sam Allardyce delighted to have found a left- sided defender. Mangala’s plan was to use the next few months to secure a move away from Manchester City.

However, his immediate future is uncertain after he was injured in the 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace last weekend.

He was substituted just before half-time, having fallen awkwardly, and the fear is that he has suffered damage to his ligaments.

There is no indication yet as to whether it a problem with his medial ligament or, the worst case scenario, his cruciate. If it is the latter, Mangala would be looking at a lay-off until the start of next season at the earliest.

Everton have only 11 Premier League games to play before the end of the campaign and Mangala would be ineligible for the home game with City on March 31 but it remains to be seen whether he will figure at all. The club’s medical staff will continue to assess him before deciding the next course of action.