Dele Alli suffers another setback in his battle with injury just as he neared Everton return… with the midfielder out of action since February

Dele Alli has suffered another injury just as the Everton midfielder was about to return to action.

The 27-year-old had returned to training last month after overcoming a long-standing groin problem and looked set to play a role for Sean Dyche's side in their battle against relegation.

But Alli revealed in a New Year's post on Instagram that he had suffered a new setback.

After returning to Goodison Park after a difficult loan spell at Turkish club Besiktas, Alli was praised for bravely speaking out about being abused as a child and going to rehab for a sleeping pill addiction.

But he has not yet been able to play a minute of football this season after returning to Everton.

The midfielder revealed in a New Year's message on Instagram that he had a new problem

Alli wrote on social media: 'As the year draws to a close, I wanted to thank you for the incredible support I have received over the past twelve months.

'This year has been a little different for me, I have learned and experienced a lot, had ups and downs, but through it all you have always shown me so much love.

'Unfortunately the year does not end as I had hoped. I was close to returning to full training, but frustratingly I suffered another setback due to my injury.

'I'll get out again [a] It will only be a short time, but my outlook and mentality are only positive.

'I'm going to attack my physiotherapy and do everything I can to get back on the field as soon as possible.

“I hope you had the year you wanted and wish you all nothing but the best for 2024.”

Dyche gave an update on Alli's fitness last month, saying: 'He's still got a while to go because he's been out for a long time, he needs a game programme, but to get him back in with us would be really be pleasant for him because he has had so much bad luck.'

The Toffees have had a tough Christmas period, falling within a point of the relegation zone after losses to Tottenham, Manchester City and Wolves.

The England international has been struggling with a groin injury and has not played since February, when he was loaned to Turkish club Besiktas

Alli was back training with the Everton squad last month as he neared a comeback

The Toffees midfielder was seen hugging some of his teammates while also working out in the gym

They would be in twelfth place without the ten-point deduction they received for breaching the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules.

Their next appearance is in the FA Cup at Crystal Palace on Thursday evening.

In July, Alli opened up to Gary Neville on The Overlap about his childhood trauma and how he checked into rehab to battle his sleeping pill addiction.

The England star emerged as one of the country's best young talents, despite a difficult childhood that saw him placed in foster care.

Alli revealed that he had recently been in rehab and shared details from his traumatic childhood, including revealing that he was abused as a child by a friend of his mother.

Alli shared harrowing details of his traumatic childhood, including an incident where he was abused by a friend of his birth mother.

Dele Alli revealed he spent six weeks in a rehab center in the US this summer after returning from his loan spell in Turkey

“(My childhood is) something I honestly haven't talked about that much. I mean, I think there were a few incidents that could give you a little bit of insight,” Alli continued.

'So when I was six, I was molested by my mother's friend, who was around the house a lot. My mother was an alcoholic, and that happened at six o'clock. I was sent to Africa to learn discipline, and then I was sent back.

'I started smoking at seven, and at the age of eight I started dealing drugs. An older person told me they wouldn't stop a kid on a bike, so I rode around with my football, and underneath I had the drugs, which were eight of them. Eleven, I was hung from a bridge by a man from the next estate, a man.'