Moyes reveals Everton injury doubt for Bournemouth bout as Toffees face continued midfield problems

David Moyes has revealed Hayden Hackney is “touch and go” to be available for Everton’s clash with Bournemouth on Saturday.

Hackney impressed on his Everton debut at Hill Dickinson Stadium last weekend but missed Tuesday’s Carabao Cup win at Preston after rolling his ankle.

“Hayden rolled his ankle last weekend so that’s why he didn’t play in midweek,” Moyes said.

“We’ll see, it’ll be touch and go for Hayden, I think.”

Summer signing Christian Nørgaard remains unavailable, with Moyes admitting the midfielder is not making the progress in his recovery that had been hoped.

“Christian is not making great progress, at the moment, so it’s probably not something we’re going to get back quickly,” he added.

Meanwhile, James Garner is continuing to build up his match fitness after making a quicker than expected recovery from a hernia injury.

Garner missed the majority of pre-season but started against Preston in midweek after Hackney’s absence, with Moyes insisting the midfielder still needs game time to return to his best.

“[Garner] is not fine because he hasn’t played any games in pre-season, so if we hadn’t have had the injury to Hayden, then we wouldn’t have started him against Preston,” said Moyes.

“Jimmy has made a remarkably quick recovery from his hernia, which is great.

“He’s a player, and you don’t see it very often, who is pushing to get back quicker and in time for the start of the season. He did that.

“I thought he did great in midweek, I still think he’s off his levels, at the moment, but it’s the game minutes he needs, which he’ll hopefully soon pick up.”