Leeds United loanee Jack Harrison set for Everton debut vs Aston Villa after selection indicator against Burton Albion
Jack Harrison looks sure to be involved in the Everton first-team for the first time since his loan move from Leeds United in the Carabao Cup clash with Aston Villa.
The winger arrived from Elland Road over a month ago (14 August) while still recovering from a hip injury that was expected to keep him out until after the international break, and so it proved.
But after making his return to action for the Under-21s last Friday (22 September) the Englishman is apparently now fit enough to play competitively.
Another run out for the age-group side might have been expected but Harrison wasn’t included in the squad for the EFL Trophy defeat to Burton Albion on Tuesday night, indicating that he is very likely to be involved in the EFL Cup 24 hours later.
Dyche takes his side to Villa Park looking to advance to the fourth round of the competition off the back of the first win of the season away to Brentford last weekend.
Getting through should help generate some momentum after a bleak start to the season, although the manager will have to guard against injuries that could derail the Premier League campaign.
Prior to the 3-1 win at West London Dyche had indicated that Harrison was back in training but wasn’t “ready to go” for the top flight outing.
But with a need to rotate his squad while still guarding against a morale-sapping defeat to the Villans a place on the bench seems the most likely outcome Wednesday night.
If the loanee still needed to build his fitness up further but was short of consideration for a first-team game then he would likely have been in action on Tuesday, so his complete absence is a sizeable hint of a possible debut.
Should the 26-year-old be able to recapture some of his best Leeds form after injury it should come as a major boost to Dyche, who lost Alex Iwobi and Demarai Gray this summer.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s latest return from injury resulted in a goal at the GTech Community Stadium, and a belated arrival into the equation from Harrison could yet multiply the benefit.
In other Everton news, the club are exploring plans to sign a Champions League defender in the January transfer window, he looks set to move to England.