David Moyes has explained that Harrison Ashby has been dealing with a groin strain.

The right-back was heavily linked with a potential summer exit from the club in the final week of the transfer window but has remained with the club.

That has led to fears over the reason for his absence but Moyes insists he is injured and he would have been playing had he been fit.

Speaking to reporters ahead of this weekend’s clash with Everton, he said: “Harrison had a groin strain and in truth if he had been available and with us, we would’ve tried to get him some minutes because we’ve only really had Vladimir Coufal in that area at the moment with us because of Ben Johnson’s injury.

“Harrison is fine. Before we left, I saw him, he was back trying to start his rehab and he was back on the grass but he’s still slightly feeling it, so that is the reason he wasn’t in the squad or even with us.”