Jack Harrison set for first start with four changes – Everton predicted XI v Aston Villa
Sean Dyche will be looking to build upon the 3-1 Premier League victory over Brentford on Saturday as Everton travel to Villa Park to face Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup.
The Toffees picked up their first win of the season after the frustration of the first few weeks and will now be looking to build on that result while confidence is high.
Villa are notoriously difficult to beat at Villa Park, as proved by the 4-0 dismantling of Dyche’s side earlier this season, so Everton could the dice in favour of handing minutes to different players, including Jack Harrison on his potential return from injury.
Harrison featured for Everton’s Under-21s side against Norwich on Friday [22 September] in a bid to gain fitness, and should now be handed his first Toffees start with the Cup providing the perfect opportunity.
Injury expert Dr Rajpal Brar told Goodison News that he expects Harrison to be available for the senior team straight away after his recovery from a hip injury.
Beto may be handed another chance to impress despite Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s goalscoring display against Brentford, with the latter being rested for the Luton game next weekend. Beto also scored in their last Carabao Cup fixture.
With Harrison returning to the side, we could also see Arnaut Danjuma feature in the number ten role behind Beto, almost as a second striker. His average position off the bench against Brentford [Sofascore] shows a more central role that could be the case again here.
If Danjuma starts in that central role, it seems Dwight McNeil is most likely to continue on the left, although Lewis Dobbin could be an option if the boss chooses to rest his first-choice winger.
In midfield, Dyche isn’t exactly blessed with an abundance of options. James Garner and Abdoulaye Doucoure will drop to the bench, seeing Idrissa Gueye and Amadou Onana continue their partnership in the middle.
38-year-old Ashley Young is unlikely to be asked to play three games in one week and should be rested ahead of the key Premier League clash with Luton at the weekend, allowing Nathan Patterson to return to the side alongside Vitaliy Mykolenko.
The centre-back pairing of James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite look like they will be given the opportunity to grow their understanding, having started just four games together so far, but it has become clear they are Dyche’s two best options for that position.
Jordan Pickford starts in goal as he did in the last Carabao Cup clash, the 3-1 win against Doncaster.
In other Everton news, the club are chasing a midfield “magician”, although the takeover will be key.