Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell is facing three months out with damaged ankle ligaments.

The Daily Mail says the £25million-rated teenager injured the ankle in a challenge by Stephen Warnock as Everton lost 1-0 at Aston Villa a week last Sunday, but the club could not get a definitive prognosis until yesterday due to swelling of the joint.

The news will be a blow to manager David Moyes and England manager Fabio Capello, who was considering calling up the 19-year-old ahead of next month's European qualifier against Montenegro.

Yet the verdict is better than Everton first feared, having lost Marouane Fellaini for five months to a similar injury last season.