Everton manager Ronald Koeman has admitted that midfielder Yannick Bolasie could be out for up to a full calendar year with a knee injury.
The winger suffered the season-ending injury in December but it is now feared that his recovery will take longer than expected.
Speaking at the club's general meeting this evening, Koeman says it would be around "11 or 12 months" until Bolasie is back.
That would put a return date to action to the end of 2017 or early in 2018.
He is due to undergo a second operation on his anterior cruciate ligament.
"It will be around 11-12 months before he is back. That is a big disappointment but he will come back," said Koeman.
The DR Congo international joined Everton from Crystal Palace in summer 2016 for a fee of about €29 million.
Before suffering the injury, the 27 year old had made 15 appearances for Everton in all competitions, scoring once.
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