Everton are sweating on the fitness of midfielder Amadou Onana ahead of their return to Premier League action at home to Manchester United on Sunday November 26.

The ECHO understands that Onana has withdrawn from the Belgium national team squad due to a calf injury and will not be involved in their final European Championship qualifier against Azerbaijan at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Sunday. The Blues midfielder has been part of the Domenico Tedesco’s squad this week but was not included within the 22-man matchday party for Wednesday night’s 1-0 friendly win over Serbia at Oud-Heverlee Leuven’s Den Dreef ground.

Onana was sent off in the 78^th minute of Belgium’s 3-2 win against Austria in Vienna on October 13 that clinched his country’s place in next summer’s finals in Germany. His one-match ban was then deemed to have been served after the qualifier against Sweden three days later was abandoned at half-time with the score 1-1 due to security reasons after two Swedish people were shot dead in Brussels.

The 22-year-old was forced to miss Everton’s last home game, a 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on November 4. Afterwards, Blues boss Sean Dyche said: “Ama’s played with it for the last two games, a niggly calf that’s been annoying. It’s not a drastic one but with the game coming so quick, we had to make a call on it.

“Rather than he played and then came off, we thought it was clearer to start with Gana who I thought was excellent.”

Onana was then subsequently recalled for the game against Crystal Palace a week later but was taken off at half-time with his replacement Idrissa Gueye netting a late winner in a 3-2 victory. Dyche said: “I know what a good player he (Gueye) is. He was unfortunate not to start but I think Ama had earned the right with his form in the performances before that and then coming out for just one game.

“Ama’s been struggling a bit with his calf to be fair and that was the reason for the change but I think Gana with his professionalism was outstanding.”