Use your head and sign up now for the Everton FC newsletter Sign up now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Carlo Ancelotti says Everton have to look at signing a midfielder who can inject "energy" into the side.

The Blues held discussions in January about bolstering their options in the middle of the park but decided to keep their powder dry.

But Ancelotti has suggested it remains a target position for the summer where Everton are also expected to try and sign a centre-half and right-winger.

Everton also need to make a decision on the squad's right-back situation with an option to turn Djibril Sidibe's loan into a permanent move available to the Blues while Jonjoe Kenny is due to return from a spell at Schalke.

“It is an area where we need more energy, I think," Ancelotti said of Everton's midfield.

Carlo Ancelotti places specific demand on Everton coaching staff but rules out new appointments

“We have quality but above all, energy in the Premier League is really important.

“This doesn't mean that I am not happy with the players I have but if we are thinking to improve, I think on this aspect we can improve.”

Andre Gomes has returned to the side less than four months after suffering a fracture dislocation of his ankle and started his first game on Sunday against Manchester United.

But Everton are unlikely to see Jean-Philippe Gbamin fit again until the final part of the season and Morgan Schneiderlin faces an extended spell on the sidelines having undergone knee surgery last week.

Tom Davies started alongside Gomes at Goodison, with Fabian Delph an unused substitute, and Ancelotti has chopped and changed his midfield pairings since arriving in late December.

And the Italian says he will continue to rotate his midfield combinations to suit the opponent and the strategy for each game.

“Of course you have to find a partner [for Gomes] but we have the possibility to play in different ways, maybe with Davies or Fabian Delph," he said.

"Maybe they can combine better than Gylfi because they are more powerful players but it depends on the game or what type of game we want to play.

"If we want to play a game building up from the back, I think Gylfi and Andre give us the possibility to play better from the back."

Speaking ahead of Davies' first start since January, Ancelotti said of the 21-year-old: “He has to be himself. Showing his quality, I think he is a powerful midfielder and we need power sometimes in midfield.”