Sean Dyche is hopeful Dwight McNeil avoided a serious ankle injury after Everton winger had to be carried off on a stretcher against Crystal Palace… but admits ‘it’s too early to tell’

Sean Dyche is hopeful Dwight McNeil has avoided a serious injury after he was carried off on a stretcher late on in Everton‘s 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace.

The two sides cancelled each other out in a dull affair at Selhurst Park and will meet again at Goodison Park to determine who reaches the fourth the round of the FA Cup. 

The Toffees had Dominic Calvert-Lewin sent off for a controversial red card following a VAR check in the second half and lost McNeil to injury shortly afterward.

The Everton winger went down while defending corner after his ankle appeared to get caught under a teammate’s leg.

McNeil appeared immediately in discomfort, covering his face with his shirt before being treated by Everton team doctors behind the goal and was eventually carried off on a stretcher.

The Everton boss said the winger looks to have sustained an ankle injury against Crystal Palace

Speaking after the game to ITV, however, Dyche suggested the injury was not as severe as feared.  

‘He is OK and we’ll just let that settle down,’ the Everton boss said.

‘The immediate sign is better than we thought. It’s an ankle injury.’

Dyche reiterated the point when speaking to Everton’s in-house media, but conceded it was too early to make an accurate diagnosis.

‘It’s early but Dwight is in the dressing room and calm, which is a good sign,’ he said. 

‘Hopefully it’s a swollen ankle, but it’s too early to tell.’ 

The 24-year-old looked in clear pain as he was attended to by medical staff late in the second half of Everton’s 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace in the third round of the FA Cup

McNeil had to be carried off on a stretcher at Selhurst Park after getting injured

McNeil has two goals and five assists in 21 appearances in all competitions this season

Toffees captain Seamus Coleman told ITV: ‘He [McNeil] has been massive for us so we’re hoping it’s not too bad […] his commitment has been different class.’

McNeil joined Everton from Burnley in the summer of 2022 for £15million and has two goals and five assists in 21 appearances in all competitions this season.

Everton return to action on January 14 when they host Aston Villa, while Palace aren’t scheduled to play until they face Arsenal at the Emirates on January 20.

That, however, could change depending on the date of the replay against Everton.