The Everton boss might have another headache to contend with.
Ronald Koeman’s Everton side lost to Real Betis in a pre-season friendly on Saturday.
The Toffees were given a 1-0 lead early in the first half through Aissa Mandi’s own goal, before German Pezzela equalised for the Spanish outfit – now under Gus Poyet – on 23 minutes.
The contest stayed like that for the remainder of the match, before Everton lost in a penalty shootout, but the Dutch manager will have been more concerned about something else compared to the defeat itself.
Centre-back Matthew Pennington lasted 78 minutes of the clash, but a hamstring injury saw him limp off in the final quarter.
John Stones replaced him, but the intense speculation over the 22-year-old’s future is a major concern for Koeman and Everton supporters.
There is every chance that Stones – linked with a £50 million move to Manchester City – will no longer be a Toffees player by the time their Premier League curtain raiser with Tottenham Hotspur happens in two weeks.
Pennington was certainly a candidate to either replace Stones indefinitely, or supplement his absence while Koeman recruited a more experienced head to line up in Everton’s defence, but the 21-year-old’s setback has given the ex-Southampton boss another headache at an unenviable time.
The severity of his injury is yet to be determined, but Koeman will be hoping the damage to Pennington – who came to prominence under Roberto Martinez toward the end of last season – will be minimal.
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