OPINION
Everton could reportedly be without Eliaquim Mangala for the rest of the season due to injury, but he could be replaced by forgotten man Ramiro Funes Mori.
Manager Sam Allardyce now faces a difficult issue with their defence, which has been a problem area all season for the club.
The Merseyside club have conceded 46 goals already in the Premier League and there are still 11 more games to play.
Everton signed centre-back Mangala on loan from Manchester City in the summer, but the Daily Mail reports he could miss the rest of the campaign with a “serious knee injury”.
It is a big blow to lose the defensive powerhouse to injury, but there could be a timely return to action for Funes Mori and he would be the ideal replacement.
Funes Mori has not played a senior game this season due to his long-term injury absence, but is now back on the comeback trail and has featured for the Under-23s side.
The 26-year-old has shown in the past for the Toffees he could be a solid player at Premier League level and the left-sided defender would give a great balance to the team.
Allardyce needs to work out his best centre-back combination and the prospect of Funes Mori alongside Michael Keane is an exciting one.
Funes Mori may be a forgotten man given the length of his absence, but if he can get back to full fitness quickly it would feel like a new signing to reintegrate him back into the starting XI.
The Argentina international is very comfortable in possession and will want first-team minutes ahead of the World Cup.