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

Sean Dyche is hopeful Dwight McNeil has avoided serious injury after being taken off on a stretcher late in Everton's 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace.

The two sides eliminated each other in a dull affair at Selhurst Park and will meet again at Goodison Park to determine who will reach the fourth 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 afterwards.

The Everton winger went down while defending a corner kick after his ankle appeared to go under a teammate's leg.

McNeil immediately appeared to be in discomfort, covering his face with his shirt before being treated by Everton team doctors behind the goal and eventually taken away on a stretcher.

The Everton boss said the winger appears to have suffered an ankle injury against Crystal Palace

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However, speaking to ITV after the match, Dyche said the injury was not as serious as feared.

“He's doing well and we'll just let that sink in,” the Everton boss said.

“The immediate sign is better than we thought. It's an ankle injury.'

Dyche reiterated this point when speaking to Everton's internal media, but admitted it was too early to make an accurate diagnosis.

“It's early, but Dwight is in the locker 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 appeared to be in obvious 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 FA Cup third round.

McNeil had to be carried off on a stretcher at Selhurst Park after being 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 hope it's not that bad (…) his effort was in a different class.'

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

Everton are back in action on January 14 when they host Aston Villa, while Palace won't play Arsenal until January 20 at the Emirates.

However, that could change depending on the date of the replay against Everton.