Our Everton FC correspondent Joe Thomas examines the state of play as the squad faces with new injury issues but is helped by returns elsewhere. Everton’s summer fitness campaign has been hampered by injuries. The return of a number of key players helped the Blues to a comfortable victory over Preston North End, their greatest pre-season performance to yet. However, the day was tarnished by additional fitness concerns. Sean Dyche took precautions to preserve his squad, resulting in significant absences.
With just under a week until the start of the Premier League season, with Brighton & Hove Albion visiting Goodison Park on August 17, here is an update on the Everton squad’s condition. Jarrad Branthwaite must race against the clock. Jordan Pickford has not played in preseason, with Joao Virginia filling in throughout the four friendlies so yet. The England number one’s absence is scheduled as a result of his international heroics, which included reaching the European Championship final. Virginia made a number of excellent saves at Preston, including one magnificent stop from a Ryan Ledson header. The picture in front of them is less clear.
Jarrad Branthwaite is racing against time to be ready for the season’s first game. After the defeat at Salford City last weekend, Blues manager Dyche revealed that the centre back, who was the subject of two rejected bids from Manchester United this summer, had undergone a small operation on what is assumed to be a groin issue. When asked if the 22-year-old will be available for Brighton, Dyche responded after Preston: “We will see, he is making good progress all of a sudden. He had a slow stretch, but things are finally moving forward, so hopefully.
He will be present, though he may not be physically fit. With that said, the return of James Tarkowski and the immediate effect of Jake O’Brien would have been a significant boost at Deepdale, with Dyche also impressed with Michael Keane’s pre-season performance thus far. Tarkowski returned home early from a training camp in Ireland last month with a glute injury, but he played the first 45 minutes on Saturday, his first of the summer. O’Brien, Everton’s new acquisition from Lyon, came on in the second half and impressed in both areas, blasting in a finish from the edge of the box for the second of the team’s three goals.
Vitalii Mykolenko’s return to left back was also welcome news. The Ukrainian international had suffered three injuries in three months but began the game, allowing Ashley Young to switch to right back. That was necessary since Seamus Coleman was out as a precaution due to a knee issue, while Nathan Patterson is still out due to a major hamstring injury.
Coleman had a “grumbling” knee, which Dyche suspected was caused by his time at Coventry City. The club captain was caught late three times at the CBS Arena and was left gripping his knee following one challenge. Patterson, meanwhile, had surgery after a hamstring injury terminated his season early last year. It is hoped he will be able to resume training shortly, possibly by the end of this week. Tim Iroegbunam’s chances improve despite ongoing concerns.
Midfield is maybe Dyche’s most difficult location to deal with. The release of Andre Gomes, one of the club’s highest earners, and the sale of Amadou Onana for about £50 million have produced significant financial benefits.
However, even with Tim Iroegbunam’s presence, some may be concerned about middle-ground possibilities. Iroegbunam has had a strong pre-season, with Dyche praising him again after the Preston win, saying: “He is doing well, he has adapted quickly to what we require, and his body is changing to the demands we place on him physically. I chatted with him about it when he arrived, and I believe he is enjoying it. He has worked extremely hard the past two games. I felt he played very well; it was a difficult performance the other night (against. Coventry), but I think he played well and stayed on task. He played well today, too.” I
Is Iroegbunam scheduled to start against Brighton? The manager answered, “We’ll see. We brought him here to learn more about him, and he is currently giving an excellent account of himself.” Iroegbunam’s status could be boosted by problems elsewhere in the squad. James Garner missed Preston due to a calf injury, while Abdoulaye Doucoure was out with a hamstring issue. Dyche did not go into depth regarding either ailment, but Doucoure’s absence, albeit precautionary, may cause concern considering that he missed several weeks of last season due to hamstring issues in both December and January.
Idrissa Gueye returned against Preston, and his presence undoubtedly helped the team improve following a dismal showing at Coventry. He had been missing due to a calf ailment. He had a similar issue last season as Doucoure. Dele is no longer an Everton player after his contract expired, but he continues to train with the squad, and the club has spoken with Tottenham Hotspur about what would happen if he was offered a new contract. The player is definitely of interest to Dyche, who has developed a solid rapport with him and readily mentioned him after the Salford game, saying of the 28-year-old: “Dele is getting fitter but is only just starting into training.
Forgetting about the contact condition. He is generally with us and getting fitter.” Of the offensive midfielders, Iliman Ndiaye appears to have overcome a small back complaint after earning minutes against Coventry and Preston, while Jesper Lindstrom has also fought through some minor pre-season concerns and played substantially on Saturday. Stanley Mills, the Under-21s winger whose loan spell at Oxford United was cut short when he was stretchered off with a knee injury during the club’s FA Cup third-round match against Coventry in January, is a long-term doubt, but he is said to be making good progress and could return to training late this month or in September.
Chermiti poised to miss the start of the season following outstanding start in pre-season.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has played an important role in pre-season as he continues to build on the positive fitness he achieved last season, and his goal at Preston will have provided a welcome confidence boost – while it came from the penalty spot, it rounded off a good performance in which he won the penalty and assisted O’Brien.
Beto and Neal Maupay have also been involved in pre-season, but Youssef Chermiti’s injury has dealt the Blues a huge setback. The 20-year-old was the Blues’ finest performer in the early friendlies, appearing to build on his confidence from Premier League appearances at the conclusion of the previous season. He came off the bench to provide an assist and score two goals in a 3-3 draw with Sligo Rovers, and he also came off the bench to win the free kick that gave Everton the lead at Salford.
However, a foot injury sustained in training has kept him out for the start of the season, with Dyche stating: “Youssef, regrettably, is going to be a longer one. That’s a bit of a blow because he performed well in preseason and looked smart. It will take a little longer, I’m afraid. We’ll have to wait and watch, but it won’t be just a few weeks; it will be much longer.”
