Amadou Onana international woe a blessing in disguise for Everton and Sean Dyche
Amadou Onana was sent off for Belgium on Friday evening (13 October) in what could be a blessing in disguise for Everton and Sean Dyche.
The midfielder was shown a second yellow card in the 78th minute with Belgium 3-1 ahead away to Austria in their Euro 2024 qualifying tie.
Onana’s ill-discipline so nearly cost his country as Sweden, having trailed by three goals, pulled another goal back six minutes later.
But Belgium held on for a 3-2 victory at Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna to confirm their place at the European Championship finals next summer.
The Red Devils have a home match against Sweden to come on Monday (16 October), but Onana will now be unavailable for that contest.
While that is bad news for the 22-year-old as he aims to nail down a regular starting spot for Belgium, it is good news for Everton.
Onana, who was fouled three times against Austria – the second most of any player on the field [WhoScored] – will now have a full week’s rest ahead of the Merseyside derby showdown against Liverpool on October 21.
Domenico Tedesco may even let Onana return to Everton ahead of schedule as the player’s banned and Belgium’s qualifying spot is secured.
Dyche will be able to breathe a sigh of relief knowing Onana, who has started all eight Premier League games this term, will return injury-free.
Now let’s keep those fingers crossed that Everton’s other international players also head back to Finch Farm in good nick to take on Liverpool.
In other Everton news, there was more good news for Dyche elsewhere on Friday (13 October).