Everton go into the Christmas period licking their wounds after a last-gasp defeat at home to Merseyside rivals Liverpool on Monday night.

Ronald Koeman’s battling side looked set to take a point from the game at Goodison Park, but Sadio Mane reacted quickest following Daniel Sturridge’s effort to poke home for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

It means that the Toffees sit ninth at Christmas, 11 points behind fourth place Arsenal, and ten behind Tottenham in fifth, the final European place.

It has largely been a frustrating season for Everton, who had started with four wins from five back in the early phase of the campaign to sit second in the Premier League on September 17.

However, just ten points in their 12 games since then has seen Koeman’s side lose ground on the top sides, and they are now in danger of dropping into the bottom half.

After a frustrating run of form, many feel that the Toffees need reinforcements if they are to get in and amongst the European spots, so here are TWO former players who could make a return to Goodison Park in January…

Adam Forshaw

Adam Forshaw joined Everton at the age of seven, and spent 14 years at Goodison Park before moving on in 2012.

The midfielder, born in Liverpool, only made two first team appearances for the Toffees, but has since gone and become a solid midfielder at several levels of English football.

A spell in League One with Brentford was successful, and then he spent a season at Wigan back in 2014, making 17 appearances and netting once for the Latics.

However, it has been at Middlesbrough where he has really made a name for himself by helping them win promotion from the Championship last season, and being a key part of the Boro midfield in their Premier League campaign thus far.

Forshaw has appeared in all 17 of their league games thus far, outlining his importance to the side, and with Gareth Barry 36 in February and the future of James McCarthy uncertain, Everton may need more reinforcements in the centre of midfield.

Forshaw could be someone they keep an eye on.

Christian Atsu

Ghanaian international Christian Atsu struggled in his previous loan spell at Everton, where he played just 13 times and was unable to get on the score-sheet.

However, the 24-year-old has steadily improved in recent spells away from parent club Chelsea, and did well for Spanish side Malaga last season.

Yet it has been his time at Newcastle this time around which has seen Atsu finally fulfil his promise.

He has netted three times for the Magpies in the Championship, and seems to have re-found his confidence after a tricky few years.

Whether he can make the step up from the Championship to the Premier League remains to be seen, but Everton may consider getting him back at Goodison Park such is his good form this season.