Carlo Ancelotti clears Calvert-Lewin and Allan to start v Southampton
Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Allan are both ready to start against Southampton, though Yerry Mina will be out for at least two weeks.
Both Calvert-Lewin and Allan started on the bench when Everton faced Liverpool last weekend, though the England international forward was a second-half substitute for the Toffees.
Allan remained on the bench for the duration of the game, while Colombian defender Mina missed out entirely after leaving the pitch 20 minutes into Everton’s clash with Manchester City last week.
Talking ahead of Everton’s game against Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints on Monday (via Liverpool Echo), Ancelotti also revealed that JP Gbamin has been progressing well, though he’s still out for the time being. Ancelotti said: “They [Cavlert-Lewin and Allan] are ready to play, for sure, from the beginning.
“I think Yerry Mina will be out for at least two weeks.
“Gbamin is progressing well, we don’t know exactly when he can be back.”
Boost for the Blues
After Everton secured a historic victory over Liverpool last weekend, the pressure is now on for the club to maintain that momentum going forward into the next few fixtures.
The Blues face Southampton and West Brom before they next come up against a ‘top six’ club, making those six points vital if we want to qualify for Europe this season.
We’ve taken games against the so called ‘lesser sides’ for granted time and time again, and now we need to make the most of the opportunity presented to us.
Everton have the talent available to put both clubs to the sword, so there is really aren’t any excuses.
Hopefully, Carlo has drilled into the players how important the next two games are, and hopefully, we’ll see the momentum carry through on the pitch.
In other Everton news, Norwich defender Max Aarons remains a player of interest to the Toffees ahead of the summer transfer window.