Everton: Sean Dyche has obvious replacement for injured Abdoulaye Doucoure v Fulham
Joe Thomas has told Sean Dyche he has an obvious replacement waiting in the wings at Everton should Abdoulaye Doucoure miss the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Fulham through injury.
The Liverpool Echo journalist has suggested Idrissa Gueye should step straight in place of Doucoure, having returned from his suspension after the Premier League win against Burnley.
Doucoure was withdrawn at half-time of the win at Turf Moor with a tight hamstring and is a doubt ahead of the Fulham clash, with Dyche claiming it would be touch-and-go whether he would feature.
Writing in his column for the Liverpool Echo [18 December], Thomas shared: “What options will be available for Dyche are currently unclear.
“Mykolenko and Doucoure were each described as ‘touch and go’ as Everton look to beat a Fulham side that has won at Goodison Park twice already in 2023.
“Should Doucoure be injured, Gueye will be the obvious replacement.”
Changes to be made
There are several changes that Dyche will have to consider ahead of the Carabao Cup clash, with Doucoure joined by Vitaliy Mykolenko in the treatment room, while Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman are also unlikely to be available with injuries.
Jarrad Branthwaite should return after serving his suspension, but with both Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey performing well in the back three alongside James Tarkowski at Turf Moor, which one of them drops out will be a tough question for Dyche.
Having played that back three against Burnley, Dyche will also have to choose whether to stick or twist. The return of Branthwaite could facilitate a switch back to a four, but the lack of a left-back means Dwight McNeil may need to remain at left wing-back.
There are certainly decisions to be made ahead of the cup clash, but Dyche will already have an idea of the team he wants to send out to give them the best opportunity to make the semi-final.
In other Everton news, the club have received a boost after a Marco Silva meltdown.