Everton boss Roberto Martinez has put his top kids on notice ahead of a busy December schedule.
The Blues have a gruelling schedule of six games in the next 19 days - and that's even before the frenetic Christmas fixture list kicks in.
But Martinez believes he has the bodies in reserve to cope.
"We had Tyias Browning on the bench today. I feel Tyias Browning is ready to play," he said.
"I don't expect John Stones to be far away. By the turn of the year he will be fully fit.
"And if we need to look a little bit deeper into the Under-21s I would rather give opportunities to Brendan Galloway and Matthew Pennington before going into the transfer market.
"I want to keep the squad as strong as it is now and rely on that feeling that we have in the dressing room.
"Tony Hibbert can also play centre-half so I think we have options in the squad to do that."
