Everton have suffered throughout this season, both on and off the pitch.
Their dealings regarding the latter have seen a ten-point deduction enforced alongside many other frustrations, whilst it took five league games for the Toffees to actually click into gear before they found any kind of form regarding the former.
It is no coincidence that such an unexpected turnaround coincided with the return of Dwight McNeil, who had missed the start of the term due to injury.
The former Burnley winger, who stepped up last campaign during the club’s hour of need, has grown into an integral player for the club. And, since Sean Dyche’s appointment, that importance has only increased.
So, to see him stretchered off against Crystal Palace was a huge worry, especially given the last time fans saw a player get dragged off in such a manner at Selhurst Park effectively marked the end of Andros Townsend’s Everton career.
Whilst his ailment is unlikely to be as severe, the latest update has suggested that he is still unfit for first-team training, and therefore a doubt for this Sunday’s match against Aston Villa.
How important has Dwight McNeil been for Everton?
This season actually seems poised to be another of huge importance for the 24-year-old, given how he is operating within a side far more potent and confident than the one last season.
For example, his seven goals last year actually made him the club’s top scorer, and yet Abdoulaye Doucoure has nearly equalled that tally already.
That is not to undermine his stunning performances, having shone in crucial wins of Brighton and Hove Albion and Brentford that proved pivotal in earning survival.
It seems that Frank Lampard’s £20m acquisition of the wide man has been a roaring success thus far, even if it took him some time to acclimatise.
His absence will be felt heavily, given how lethal he has proven himself to be from a dead ball. Added to that his two goals and four assists in the Premier League, and it will take a lot to replace what he offers on Sunday.
Alas, Dyche must press on, hoping to stem the tide of three straight league defeats.
Whilst it will be far from an easy task, welcoming a high-flying Aston Villa side buoyed by the stellar leadership of Unai Emery, they too will not relish a trip to Goodison Park.
It promises to be an enthralling encounter, but one which McNeil seems set to miss.
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