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Everton are expecting to perform a major shake-up of their under-23 squad during the January transfer window.

But coach David Unsworth insists the changes will not put their Premier League 2 title charge at risk.

Conor Grant joined Doncaster Rovers last week on loan for the rest of the season while goalkeeper Russell Griffiths returned from a spell with Cheltenham Town.

Unsworth has confirmed that he expects more players to be sent out on loan this month but also hinting that some may leave permanently.

And the u-23s coach has also reiterated his desire to add new players to his Blues squad as he looks to build on the recent success of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Mason Holgate who have graduated to the first-team set-up.

“We’ve got three different blocks,” Unsworth explained.

“We’ve got the lads who can’t get in the under-23s team at the moment who need to go out, at whatever level they can get, and earn a career.

“We’ve got the lads who have got the opportunity to go to a really good level, who are in the u-23 team, and you have also got the more senior under-23 players who are just playing games to keep their minutes up where a challenge of a loan in the Championship or top of League One will be a big stepping stone for them.

“But at the same time, Joe and I have got an eye on staying competitive, we still want to do well.”

Unsworth’s side, whose side cemented their position at the top of the Premier League 2 table, added: “We’ve got a few targets, whether we get them or not I’m not too sure.

“But we have identified a couple of targets, potentially three or four, but if we don’t get them in January, hopefully we’ll get them in the summer.

Liam Walsh, meanwhile, is expected to be sidelined for another two weeks with a knee injury.