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Everton have been given an injury scare after John Stones was forced out of their Carling Cup tie with Reading.

The England defender limped off just four minutes into the second half of the game at the Madejski Stadium, with what appeared to be a thigh problem.

Brendan Galloway replaced the 21-year-old, who headed straight down the tunnel for treatment after a brief conversation with manager Roberto Martinez and his assistant Graeme Jones. Everton were trailing 1-0 at the time, after Nick Blackman's first-half strike for Reading.

Everton's next fixture is away at West Bromwich Albion on Monday night, and Martinez will be all-too-aware that there is also the looming prospect of a Merseyside derby with Liverpool at Goodison Park on 4 October.

The Catalan, of course, will be desperate to have Stones available for that, and will hope his problem is not a serious one.