DAVID MOYES was handed a fresh injury headache as Everton FC ended their pre-season preparations with defeat against Villarreal at Goodison.

Seamus Coleman was taken to hospital with a serious ankle injury having been on the receiving end of a dreadful first-half challenge from Villarreal midfielder Carlos Marchena.

Marchena was guilty of a vicious stamp on the Everton man, who had lengthy treatment on the field before being carried down the tunnel.

The Spaniard was later booked for a trivial offence but in reality was lucky to escape a red card for his 38th-minute challenge.

Coleman will already miss the Premier League opener at Tottenham Hotspur on August 13 through suspension, but Everton fear the Irishman could now face an extended spell on the sidelines.

It set the tone for an at time tetchy friendly between the sides who played out a controversial Champions League qualifier six years ago.

Giuseppe Rossi’s 20-yard shot midway through the second half proved the only goal and sent Everton tumbling to their second defeat in four days, having lost by a similar scoreline on Tuesday night at Werder Bremen.

In truth, it was a deserved defeat as a worryingly subdued Everton struggled to maintain the momentum they had been building over recent weeks.

With no summer signings, the new faces for the Goodison crowd were the clutch of youngsters that have been gaining experience during pre-season.

Chief among them is Ross Barkley, and the 17-year-old could be one of the few Everton players to be pleased with his performance before being replaced 20 minutes from time.

Jack Rodwell returned to the Everton midfield alongside Marouane Fellaini, who was making his first appearance in three weeks since the opening friendly at Bury.