Everton Women: Willie Kirk – Duo will miss Everton clash v Chelsea
Goodison News editor Elliott Cuff reporting from Tuesday’s pre-match press conference…
Everton Women manager Willie Kirk explains that he’ll be without Sandy MacIver and Dan Turner when taking on Chelsea on Wednesday.
The Toffees are set to face the Women’s Super League leaders following on from their 4-0 victory over Birmingham City, and they’ll be forced to do it without first-choice goalkeeper MacIver.
The 22-year old shot-stopper, who signed a new contract with the club earlier this week, will miss the game due to concussion protocols – though Kirk did confirm that she’s back in training.
Goodison News attended Kirk’s pre-match press conference, and the manager provided more information on the duo who would miss the clash against the Blues.
Kirk said: “Sandy will be missing but we’ve also got a very, very able deputy who’s competing for a place every week with Sandy and that’s Tini [Tinja-Riikka Korpela], so Tini will come in.
“The only other one that we’ll miss is Dan Turner. Dan’s still got this little niggling calf problem and it’s just been best I think for everybody just to take her out, take her off her feet and try and get to the bottom of it.
“We left her out of the Birmingham game because of it so she’ll also miss this game and hopefully we’ll get to the bottom of it as soon as possible.”
Difficult challenge
Chelsea will pose a dangerous threat no matter who plays for Everton on Wednesday, but MacIver’s absence will undoubtedly make proceedings more complicated.
MacIver has been a mainstay in Kirk’s side this season, playing in 14 of Everton’s 16 games in the WSL, and she’ll be a major blow for the Toffees.
Turner has also been a regular feature for Kirk side this season, and though her defensive strengths weren’t missed against Birmingham last Thursday, Chelsea’s forward line will present a whole different challenge entirely.
As Kirk explained in his press conference, both Ji So-yun and Pernille Harder didn’t feature in Chelsea’s 6-0 FA WSL Cup final win over Bristol City, so with the talented duo fresh Everton won’t be able to rely on their opposition having tired legs.
Still, Kirk will hope that his side can take confidence from their impressive performance against Birmingham in spite of the players they will miss, though it won’t be easy.