EVERTON may be without Joseph Yobo until February after the extent of the defender’s hamstring problem emerged.

Yobo underwent a scan on the pulled hamstring that forced him off after just 15 minutes of the 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday.

The 29-year-old initially suffered the damage towards the end of the derby defeat to Liverpool the previous weekend and missed the Europa League triumph in Greece against AEK Athens.

And Yobo will now be sidelined for the remainder of the year, ruling him out of tomorrow’s visit to Premier League leaders Chelsea and subsequent games against Birmingham City, Sunderland and Burnley.

Although the FA Cup third round tie with Carlisle United is scheduled for January 2, the centre-back is then expected to be called into Nigeria’s training squad ahead of the African Cup of Nations that begins for his country on January 12.

And with Yobo hopeful of reaching the final on January 31, Everton manager David Moyes could conceivably be without the defender for the next seven weeks.

“A scan carried out showed that it was a familiar hamstring injury and that I should rest until the end of the year,” said Yobo. “They (doctors) anticipate that I should be fully back at the end of December.

“Unfortunately that will cost me a chance to help out my club at this demanding and crucial stage of the season. Everton means a lot to me because it is my second family but my thoughts and prayers will be with the team while I recover.

“Hopefully I will return a better and fitter player at the beginning of 2010, a special year for Nigeria football. The physiotherapists have got a grip of the situation and the method of perfect recovery and that is the path we are taking at the moment.”