Everton vs Brentford: Predicted Line-Up | Branthwaite & McNeil Updates

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How will the Blues line up at Goodison Park?

After a horrific start to the season, the Blues settled things down in recent games, but it still feels like Everton are yet to really kick on.

So with Brentford the visitors to Goodison on Saturday, how will Dyche line up his side? For the visiting Thomas Frank, the trio of Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa and Ethan Pinnock have all been passed fit for the trip.

Who's Out?

After missing out against West Ham before the international break, Dwight McNeil is fit again.

Jarrad Branthwaite withdrew from England action as a precaution after he picked up a minor groin problem against the Hammers. He returned to full training on Thursday, with Sean Dyche hoping he'll be okay to feature too.

Otherwise the injury list (Garner, Iroegbuman, Coleman, Broja and Chermiti) remains the same, although the striking duo are nearing a return.

Armando Broja has just returned to full training, so we can expect to see him get a couple of outings with the under-21s before making his full debut. Youssef Chermiti, meanwhile, isn't far behind the Albanian striker in terms of recovery.

EVERTON SQUAD AVAILABLE VS BRENTFORD

Goalkeepers: Pickford, Virginia, Begovic

Defenders: Keane, Branthwaite (DOUBT), Tarkowski, O'Brien, Mykolenko, Coleman (INJURED), Patterson, Young, Dixon

Midfielders: Doucoure, Gueye, Garner (INJURED), Iroegbuman (INJURED), Mangala, Armstrong

Wingers: McNeil, Harrison, Ndiaye, Lindstrom

Attackers: Calvert-Lewin, Beto, Chermiti (INJURED), Broja (INJURED)

Tactics and Formation

Don't expect many changes from the side that played out a goalless draw against West Ham before the break.

Pickford in goal, Young and Mykolenko at full back, for sure. It'll probably be Tarkowski and Branthwaite, but Keane may return if Dyche isn't convinced on Branthwaite's fitness.

Dwight McNeil will surely return to the starting line-up, so it's just a question of who he replaces in midfield: it could be Doucoure, Lindstrøm or Mangala. I'd wager Doucoure.

The only other potential change would be Jack Harrison coming in for Lindstrom. But the Danish international has been improving in recent games, so he'll probably stick with him for now.

Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)

Jordan Pickford – 9/10

Ashley Young – 9/10

Jarrad Branthwaite – 6/10

James Tarkowski – 9/10

Vitaliy Mykolenko – 9/10

Idrissa Gana Gueye – 9/10

Orel Mangala – 6/10

Jesper Lindstrøm - 6/10

Dwight McNeil – 8/10

Iliman Ndiaye – 8/10

Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 8/10

Bench

Joao Virginia

Nathan Patterson

Michael Keane

Jake O'Brien

Abdoulaye Doucoure

Callum Bates

Jack Harrison

Harrison Armstrong

Beto