Everton have been dealt a blow ahead of a Sam Allardyce reunion on Thursday when the Toffees face West Brom.

Ex-Napoli enforcer Allan, a £21 million summer signing for Everton according to BBC Sport, looks set to be unavailable for the trip to face the Baggies by Carlo Ancelotti’s own admission.

Allan returned from injury into the heart of midfield in Everton’s 1-0 routing of Southampton on Tuesday, but again looks set to remain side-lined.

To add to the weight of hope for Everton supporters, the Toffees can ascend into a Champions League spot with a win over West Brom, with Everton just two points off fourth-placed West Ham.

However, Ancelotti has admitted that fitness concerns could hamper his hopes of having a more freely available range of options to him.

“We have time to recover for Thursday.

“Allan was back after two months, we have to take care of this, it might be more difficult for him,” he said [via BBC Sport].

“We have to check on James, Seamus Coleman and Tom Davies for Thursday.”

The latter trio mentioned were all notable absentees in the Toffees’ previous win, though their absence did not prevent Ancelotti’s side from securing all three points thanks to a superbly worked team goal that culminated in Richarlison rounding the Southampton goalkeeper.

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Allan and Davies are two of the most defensively robust options available to Ancelotti, so Everton must be wary that their midfield does not loosen up against Sam Allardyce’s new side.

However, West Brom’s relegation-threatened nature should offer some cause for optimism – but complacency must be avoided.