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Rafa Benitez's injury crisis at Everton has deepened with three first-choice players joining an already crowded treatment room. 

Captain Seamus Coleman, striker Richarlison, and winger Andros Townsend all ruled out for differing periods of time.

Coleman's injury is the least serious of the bunch. The 33-year old sustained bone bruising and soft tissue damage in last weekend's 3-1 defeat away to Crystal Palace.

He'll be further assessed in the coming days, but appears certain to miss Thursday's Premier League trip to Chelsea.

The cases regarding Richarlison and Townsend will provide more of a headache to the besieged Everton boss.

A scan has revealed Richarlison suffered a tear to his calf, and he's expected to be out for a number of weeks.

Benitez defended his decision to withdraw the Brazilian with 20-minutes to go of Sunday's loss at Selhurst Park. Richarlison was visibly unhappy with being replaced by Salomon Rondon, despite clearly being troubled by his calf.

"We were thinking about changing him but we didn't do it as we gave him five minutes to see how he was," said Benitez on Sunday, "We didn't want him to get injured with so many games and he was not affecting the game, so you make the substitution as you know what is going on.

"But you can't explain that all the time. I'm disappointed that the people don't realise that you make the substitutions and they go well, as Rondon was a key player for us with the way he held the ball.

"Richarlison wasn't helping when he was moving his arms, when he knew at half-time we were going to give him five minutes to see how he was.

"He said at half-time, 'give me five minutes and we'll see how I'm getting on' - I can't explain that to every fan what is going on."

Meanwhile, Andros Townsend - who has started all but five of Everton's games in all competitions this season - must see specialists after suffering a small fracture in his foot away to Palace.

They join an injury list that also contains Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes.

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Andros Townsend Dominic Calvert Lewin Everton Rafa Benitez Richarlison Seamus Coleman

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