Sam Allardyce to miss Everton’s dead rubber with Apollon Limassol ahead of Merseyside derby

SAM ALLARDYCE is set to skip Everton’s Europa League clash with Apollon Limassol.

Big Sam reportedly has a long-standing medical appointment that will cause him to miss the Europa League dead rubber on Thursday.

The club were said to have been aware of it when they appointed him last Thursday.

Allardyce, 63, clinched a win over Huddersfield on Saturday in his first game as boss.

But he will not travel to Cyprus for a game that assistant Craig Shakespeare is now expected to take charge of.

The Toffees are set to fly out on Wednesday and return on Friday, two days before their Merseyside derby clash.

Everton have no chance of qualifying for the knockout stages after a miserable European adventure.

They have picked up just one point from five games, with their game against Apollon only deciding which side finishes bottom of group E.

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According to , Duncan Ferguson is set to assist former Leicester boss Shakespeare.

With Sunday’s clash against Liverpool in mind, several Toffees academy starlets could be in line to play in Cyprus.

Nine first-team squad members are already ruled as the Blues prepare to visit Anfield, where they have not won since 1999.