Everton midfielder Andre Gomes has been sent home from international duty with Portugal after medical tests left his national side worried about the levels of his fitness, as detailed by an official statement from the Portuguese Football Association.
The FPF confirmed on their website on Monday that the midfield talent, who has recently become a regular starter for Marco Silva’s side, underwent examination in the first days of the current international break but was deemed to be unable to take part and thus has returned to Everton.
The Toffees will be worried about the status of the 25-year-old, who has started the last four Premier League games for the club while on loan from Barcelona.
Opinion
This is not good news for Everton, although the vagueness of the statement from the Portuguese FA does leave things up in the air. Is it simply a matter of fitness levels which has seen him ruled out of action for his country, or is there a more specific issue, like an injury, which has resulted in his return to Merseyside? If the former, then the Toffees will be scratching their heads, for he has looked perfectly fit in their Premier League games of late, seeing out the full 90 minutes in their last three matches. However, if it is the latter, and there is some sort of problem affecting him, then they ought to be concerned. A slight muscle injury could take the two weeks of the international break to heal, but anything more severe than that is likely to see him forced back onto the sidelines for at least one game. Now it is time for Everton to make their judgement on Gomes’ fitness, and find out just why he has returned from international duty prematurely.