Keep track of Everton injuries, fitness concerns and expected return dates throughout the 2026/27 season.
David Moyes’ injury list has shortened ahead of Saturday’s Premier League game against Chelsea, with Merlin Röhl and Christian Nørgaard both returning to the matchday squad at Hull City.
Neither midfielder was used in the 2-2 draw at Hull, despite Moyes making all five substitutions, so their inclusion should not necessarily be taken as confirmation that they were ready for significant minutes.
Vitalii Mykolenko remains the main fitness concern after missing the trip to Hull following the problem he suffered while away with Ukraine.
Last updated: 16 October 2026
Everton injury list at a glance
| Player | Issue | Current status | Next opportunity to play |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitalii Mykolenko | Injury | Doubt | Chelsea – 17 October |
| Christian Nørgaard | Recent groin injury | Available/back in squad | Chelsea – 17 October |
| Merlin Röhl | Recent injury | Available/back in squad | Chelsea – 17 October |
Fitness note: Röhl and Nørgaard were both named on the bench at Hull, so they were presumably considered fit enough to be available for selection.
Neither played despite Moyes using all five substitutions, however, so it remains unclear whether either was ready for substantial minutes and both may still be building match sharpness.
For the purposes of this tracker, both are therefore listed as available/back in squad rather than injured.
Vitalii Mykolenko – left-back
Status: Doubt
Issue: Injury
Next opportunity to play: Chelsea – 17 October
Mykolenko missed the draw at Hull after returning from international duty with Ukraine with a fitness problem.
Moyes had indicated before the game that the left-back had a chance of being involved, but he was ultimately left out of the squad and Jarrad Branthwaite filled in on the left side of Everton’s defence.
There has been no confirmation of a lengthy absence, so Saturday’s home game against Chelsea is the next possible return date.
Moyes’ pre-match press conference should provide a clearer indication of whether Mykolenko is ready to return.
Christian Nørgaard – central midfield
Status: Available/back in squad
Issue: Recent groin injury
Next opportunity to play: Chelsea – 17 October
Nørgaard was named among the substitutes at Hull after a groin problem disrupted the start of his Everton career.
The summer signing had returned to first-team training and built his fitness with minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly before being included in Moyes’ squad at the MKM Stadium.
His place on the bench suggests he was fit enough to play if required, although he remained an unused substitute as Moyes made all five of his available changes.
It is therefore more accurate to regard Nørgaard as available rather than injured, while acknowledging that he may still need time to build full match sharpness before making his competitive Everton debut.
Merlin Röhl – midfield
Status: Available/back in squad
Issue: Recent injury
Next opportunity to play: Chelsea – 17 October
Röhl also returned to the matchday squad at Hull after missing Everton’s previous league games with an injury.
Like Nørgaard, his inclusion on the bench indicates that he was available for selection, but he did not feature as Everton looked for a late winner.
There has been no suggestion of a setback, so Röhl should now be considered available unless Moyes provides a different update before the Chelsea game.
The midfielder will hope to take the next step by returning to competitive action after his spell on the sidelines.
Everton’s injury picture improving
The returns of Röhl and Nørgaard to the squad have given Moyes additional midfield options, even if their readiness to play significant minutes has yet to be established.
Mykolenko is the main player whose availability remains uncertain ahead of Chelsea, with Branthwaite demonstrating at Hull that he can provide cover on the left if required.
Everton’s relatively short injury list is encouraging as the fixtures begin to come more regularly, while the situation around Röhl and Nørgaard should become clearer once they return to competitive action.
This tracker will be updated throughout the season as Everton’s injury and fitness picture changes.
For more Everton news, please visit our news page.
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