Conor Coady's Everton future reportedly remains up in the air, with no decision made on whether to turn his loan deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers into a permanent one.
Coady was ever-present under Frank Lampard after arriving in August, and he also started in Sean Dyche's first four games as Everton boss.
However, after a 2-0 loss at home to Aston Villa, Coady has not featured at all, with Dyche preferring Michael Keane to partner James Tarkowski at the back.
The Liverpool Echo reports that Dyche's focus is not on the future of players who are coming to the end of their deals, but firmly on ensuring Premier League survival instead.
A 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at the weekend saw Everton slip to 17th, level on points with Nottingham Forest who find themselves in the drop zone.
There is a clause in Coady's contract which could see Everton sign the England international on a permanent basis at the end of the season, but no decision has yet been made.
Andrew Delaney
