Alex Iwobi is not listed for the Toffees Premier League game against Crystal Palace Monday evening with gaffer, Carlo Ancelotti revealing the Nigerian sustained ‘little problems’ in the past few days.
The Super Eagles star who was falsely claimed to have tested positive for Covid-19 by Benin Republic health officials on the eve of Nigeria’s 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Squirrels but returned to action three days later in the 3-0 defeat of Lesotho in the same qualification series was expected to return to the Toffees line up after playing all 90 minutes against Burnley before the international break.
The former Arsenal midfielder is however not in the matchday squad for the third time this season. He first missed Everton’s opening game of the season, the 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspurs.
He was also not in the squad in the 1-0 loss to visiting West Ham united this January and the Nigerian has now missed four games for the Toffees thus far after he was left on the bench for all 90 minutes in the 2-0 loss to Fulham at Goodison Park.
Iwobi has made 15 starts and subbed on 10 times for the Toffees so far this term, scoring once and has provided two assists.
He has now missed the chance to score his third goal against the visitors in seven appearances, a feat that would have been a first for him as he has only scored twice against the same team in the competition.