Which of the 12 Everton players on Dyche's list could make the Leicester City trip

09/19/2024 01:48 PM

Dyche might only have three out of a dozen players back for crucial game on Saturday

Things could not be going worse for the Blues. Everton crashed out of the Carabao Cup on penalties for the fifth time in seven years, and that is after they had succumbed to their fourth successive league defeat to open the season, with the latter two of those games including blown two-goal leads.

A trip to newly-promoted Leicester City might just be the cure-all this team needs, but Sean Dyche is not going to get any favours there either with up to twelve first team players facing issues.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Vitaliy Mykolenko and James Garner all missed the Southampton defeat midweek with a mystery illness, with the former pair having resumed training, but now Jack Harrison has joined those ranks while midfielder Garner is still unlikely to feature. The Blues looked blunt without DCL on Tuesday, and Myko returning should stabilize that wing.

Beleaguered central defender Michael Keane looked to have picked up a knock on Tuesday night, and is undergoing precautionary scans today. James Tarkowski meanwhile trained today and as long as he comes through that okay should be in the XI on Saturday.

The Toffees will be short-handed elsewhere however. Jarrad Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson are close to returning to the squad, and while they will not be available Saturday, they will both feature for the Under-21s on Sunday.

Idrissa Gana Gueye is mourning the passing of his father and will not be available. Orel Mangala looked like he belonged in the Carabao Cup game, so should slot right in.

Seamus Coleman, Youssef Chermiti and Armando Broja are longer term injuries and remain out of commission for now.

The Blues' absentee list is so extensive that the manager had to bring an unprecedented written copy to his pre-match press conference earlier today.

"Jarrad is making progress and hopefully gets involved in a game with the Under-21s this weekend – it's looking likely he is. Nathan Patterson is the same.

"James Tarkowski – we're hopeful. He trained today and we'll see if there's no reaction.

"Dominic Calvert-Lewin looks okay today. He was back in on the grass so we're hopeful his illness is gone. Jimmy Garner is still not in with illness. Myko is here and he's through the illness, so we're hopeful that's him done [with it].

"Harrison left training early after feeling ill, hope it's something and nothing.

"Idrissa, unfortunately, has had a family bereavement so he won't be here.

"Seamus is still injured and, unfortunately, is going to be longer than we hoped. That's not going to be a quick situation but we're not sure on the timescales yet.

"Youssef [Chermiti] is making good progress but is obviously quite a longer-term injury and Armando [Broja] is the same.

"Keano is getting checked out today, just getting checked out and having a precautionary scan to make sure he is okay."