Demarai Gray ruled out of Everton clash v Aston Villa by Sean Dyche
Sean Dyche has confirmed that Demarai Gray won’t feature for Everton against Aston Villa on Sunday as he’s not 100% fit, he told the Liverpool ECHO.
Gray featured during the summer for Jamaica in the Gold Cup but hasn’t featured for Everton since, missing pre-season and the opening game of the season so far.
Dyche was asked if the winger, who has been heavily linked with an exit from the club this month, would be involved against Villa on Sunday (20 August) as they go in search of their first point of the season, but the boss revealed he wasn’t fully fit yet and wouldn’t play.
“He is just coming back, he needs to be fully fit,” he said.
Gray is said to be a transfer target for a Saudi Arabian club as well as Fulham and Crystal Palace in the Premier League, with a deal expected to happen should the Toffees sign a replacement.
No surprise
It’s no shock for Everton fans to hear that Gray won’t be involved on Sunday, but it’s interesting that Dyche isn’t confirming that he is likely to leave.
It’s been reported for most of the summer that he could be on his way out after being unhappy at the amount of football he got last season, and the arrivals of Jack Harrison, Arnaut Danjuma and potentially Wilfried Gnonto won’t help his chances.
There is clearly interest but Everton are being smart and not letting him go until they feel they’re well stocked in his position and that means Dyche has to play it smart just incase he ends up sticking around.
Most fans expect him to leave before the window shuts, but if he manages to prove his fitness before then there should be no harm in playing him as he is more than capable of making a positive difference for us on the pitch while he still plays for us.
In other Everton news, new bid expected for international attacker in “next days” says Fabrizio Romano.