Dyche saved starting XI headache as Idrissa Gana Gueye ruled out v Burnley
Idrissa Gana Gueye’s fifth yellow card of the season against Chelsea will save Sean Dyche from having to make a choice about his Everton midfield trio against Burnley.
Gueye’s challenge on Enzo Fernandez gave referee Michael Oliver no choice but to go into his pocket, showing the Toffees midfielder his third booking in four matches. He will now be suspended against Burnley.
Whether he was available or not, Dyche should want to choose a midfield of James Garner, Amadou Onana and Abdoulaye Doucoure against Premier League strugglers Burnley on Saturday.
The Chelsea match marked the second time this season Gueye has been yellow carded in the first half and hooked by Dyche at half-time, also happening in a 4-0 thrashing by Aston Villa in August.
When questioned about it after the match, Dyche said to Liverpool Echo (10 December), “He just looked tired, he just looked fatigued.”
Although Dyche now has no choice but to leave him out of the squad, the Senegalese’s recent performances have not screamed confidence and would be expected to be dropped if not for the suspension.
In 45 minutes against Chelsea, Gueye won 0 per cent of the tackles he entered, 29 per cent of ground duels entered and committed one foul that saw him be booked [FotMob].
As well as finishing the half with a 64 per cent pass completion, he made just 19 touches, was dispossessed once and was also dribbled past.
Despite a decent display against Newcastle United in the previous match, his yellow card and five fouls make it clear that Gueye is a liability in an overloaded midfield.
Onana is far more controlled in midfield, but a recent calf injury has kept him sidelined for a month. However, his second-half cameo will see Dyche hide his happiness at any potential headache being avoided.
In other Everton news, Gareth Southgate can surely not ignore Jarrad Branthwaite after his performance versus Chelsea.