Kenwyne Jones is set to call in the Professional Footballers Association to resolve his row with Stoke City.
Jones has been fined two weeks' wages by Stoke after refusing to report for the game against Liverpool on Sunday but is disputing the punishment and has asked the PFA for guidance.
Stoke manager Mark Hughes has been left furious by the incident and is understood to have told chairman Peter Coates that he has never experienced such an episode during his near 15 years of management.
Everton are considering a move for the Trinidad & Tobago international this month but are reluctant to pay the asking fee, understood to be around £3million.
Jones only has under six months left on his contract but appears to be heading for an acrimonious exit after speaking to the PFA.
Stoke insist they will fight against any appeal from Jones and believe the punishment was adequate after he failed to turn up for Sunday's game at the Britannia Stadium.