Everton could be without a quartet of injured players for first game of 2025 at Bournemouth. The Blues have never won a Premier League fixture away to the Cherries having lost five of their previous seven visits, including the last three in a row with a last-minute 2-1 defeat on their most recent encounter at the Vitality Stadium on March 30 last year.

Following Ipswich Town’s 2-0 home win over Chelsea on Monday night, Everton go to Bournemouth just two points above the relegation zone although they do have a game in hand on all four clubs below them in the table. Here’s a closer look at the players we know are doubtful for the clash against Andoni Iraola’s side who came from 2-0 down going into the 87th minute at Goodison Park to record a dramatic 3-2 victory on August 31.

Dwight McNeil

With four goals so far, one more than he netted in the whole of last season, the Rochdale-born player currently remains Everton’s top scorer this term. The 25-year-old hasn’t featured since he was taken off 74 minutes into the Blues’ 4-0 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 4.

Speaking about McNeil’s knee injury after the 2-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest on December 29, manager Sean Dyche said: “We are hopeful it is settling down and not going to be too long.”

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Seamus Coleman

The aforementioned collapse at home to Bournemouth is one of only two Premier League matches so far this season that Everton’s club captain has started. Despite skippering the side for their 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Boxing Day, the 36-year-old was replaced by Nathan Patterson as the game went into stoppage time and he was then ruled out against Nottingham Forest.

At the Etihad, Dyche suggested Coleman had suffered from cramp and before Forest’s visit he claimed it was a “very minor injury,” but afterwards stated: “Seamus is wait and see but it’s early days yet.”

Tim Iroegbunam

A summer signing from Aston Villa, the midfielder started Everton’s first five games of the season in all competitions but hasn’t featured since he came off the bench in the goalless draw at home to Newcastle United on October 5. Following that month’s international break, Dyche revealed in his pre-match press conference for the trip to Ipswich Town that the 21-year-old had suffered a stress response of a bone in his foot while ahead of the Chelsea home game on December 22, he said: “Jimmy (Garner) and Tim are still a bit behind the curve, they are making progress though, so that is good. That is not going to be quick progress at this stage, but they are on the grass and just beginning to take soft steps back towards fitness.”

James Garner

As just stated, Garner is also a while off returning with the 23-year-old having played five matches this term but like Iroegbunam, not featuring since the Magpies’ visit to Goodison Park. Suffering with his second back problem since he joined Everton from Manchester United in 2022, the midfielder could remain out for at least another month but ahead of Chelsea’s visit, he shared an image of himself with boots on, captioned with the comment: “Today is a good day.”