Everton have confirmed that defender Ben Godfrey is likely to be sidelined for about three months after having surgery on the right leg that he fractured in the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea at the weekend.
Godfrey suffered the injury as he made a last-ditch recovery tackle on Kai Havertz, after playing a poor back pass to Jordan Pickford that allowed the Blues forward to pick up the ball in a dangerous position.
The 24-year-old was stretchered off the pitch and taken straight to hospital.
'Ben Godfrey underwent successful surgery this morning on the fractured fibula he sustained,' Everton said.
'The defender will now begin rehabilitation at Finch Farm under the care of the club's medical team and is expected to be out for around three months.'
Everton also confirmed that fellow defender Yerry Mina suffered an ankle ligament injury in the second half of the game against Chelsea and will see a specialist this week to discover the full extent of the problem.
It heightens Frank Lampard's need for a new centre-back, with Conor Coady expected to sign on loan very soon.
Sky Sports have reported that the 29-year-old has passed a medical ahead of a season-long switch from Wolves, while Everton will have the option to buy him next summer.
Coady is Wolves' club captain and has been at Molineux for seven years, but is no longer first choice in Bruno Lage's backline following the arrival of Nathan Collins from Burnley earlier in the summer.