Oxford United winger Stanley Mills returned to Everton after picking up a knee injury in the FA Cup defeat at Coventry.
The 20-year-old, who scored once and added eight assists while on a season-long loan from the Toffees, was taken off on a stretcher as the U’s lost 6-2 at the Ricoh Arena.
As a result, the winger has returned to Finch Farm to begin surgery before rehabilitation under the care of Everton medical staff.
It’s a blow to both the player and the club. For Mills, it was a first loan spell in the Football League and for Oxford, they had a talented youngster who showed plenty of positive displays.
With Marcus Browne, Josh Murphy and Kyle Edwards all injured – the latter who could return to parent club Ipswich as a result – it leaves Des Buckingham threadbare in terms of wingers.
The U’s are yet to bring any new faces through the door during the transfer window but they’ll be hoping to add in the coming days.
However, it’s not just playing staff that Buckingham is relying on, with the head coach still awaiting the appointment of an assistant manager, nearly two months after he took the role.
