James Tarkowski’s injury update has been shared as Everton consider transfer options

Everton believe James Tarkowski will return to action during pre-season after the centre-back missed the second friendly due to injury. The 31-year-old picked up a hamstring problem during the club’s training camp in Ireland earlier this month, prompting him to fly home ahead of the match against Sligo Rovers as a precaution.

The centre-back was present as Everton followed up that draw with a 2-1 defeat at Salford City, but was not part of the squad. Sean Dyche hopes to return to action soon and could be involved in the game against Preston North End next week.

Tarkowski is one of several Everton players dealing with injury problems at the moment, with Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye also missing out at the Peninsula Stadium after starring on the west coast of Ireland eight days earlier. Vitali Mykolenko, Jarrad Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson are dealing with longer-term problems and were also absent on Saturday. New signing Jesper Lindstrom has also been ruled out, but the attacking midfielder could be involved at Coventry City on Tuesday night.

Explaining Everton’s injury situation after the game, Dyche said: “Tarky’s been through pretty well so he’ll continue next week and we’ll see how he is. Yeah, we’ll see how the week goes (if he’ll be ready for Preston), but he’s feeling better. Myko is more cautious. Ili (Ndiaye) is more cautious – he only has one twist and felt the back a bit. It is set. Gana is precautionary. Minor calf but we have to be careful, he had a few last season so we have to be careful.

Jarrad is a bit longer, but he’s had a longer process because he’s coming back from that minor operation. Patto is a bit longer. It was a pretty bad hamstring injury but he’s doing really well and that’s clearing up nicely. But it’s not close yet. Dele is getting fitter and fitter, but is only now starting training. Forgetting the contact situation. He is generally with us and getting fit. Jordan is not back yet and is a few weeks away (following Pickford’s involvement at the Euros).

“Jesper is not hurt. He just got here and is sorting out his (new) life. We are trying to get it up and running as quickly as possible and it has already played there. He’s had a very solid couple of weeks already, so he feels ready. We’d like to think that if we can get him in on Monday then it might sort it out for Tuesday (the Coventry game). There might be a few more (back) for Tuesday, but we have to be careful.”

Meanwhile, Everton have stepped up their attempts to improve their defensive options in the form of Lyon centre-back Jake O’Brien.