Ashley Young call made as Sean Dyche shares Abdoulaye Doucoure fitness update – Early Everton team news v Crystal Palace
Everton manager Sean Dyche has provided an early team news update ahead of Wednesday’s (17 January) clash with Crystal Palace.
The Toffees welcome fellow Premier League side Palace to Goodison Park for an FA Cup third-round replay after the initial tie finished 0-0.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday (16 January), via the Kick streaming app, Dyche revealed a couple of players are carrying knocks.
“Ashley Young is back on the grass, but this game will come too quickly for him,” Dyche said.
“Seamus Coleman has a tightness in his hamstring and Abdoulaye Doucoure has a knock.”
Asked about Vitaliy Mykolenko, who had a nasty bang to the head last time out, Dyche said: “Get some glue on it. He’ll be fine.”
Big call to make
Dyche named a very strong side for the match at Selhurst Park and that almost badly backfired as Dominic Calvert-Lewin was sent off and Dwight McNeil sustained what looked to be a serious injury.
Calvert-Lewin’s red has since been rescinded, though, while McNeil has made a swifter-than-expected return to fitness.
Both men are in contention to start in midweek, but Dyche may well look to rotate on the back of the draw against Aston Villa last weekend.
There is absolutely no need to risk key man Doucoure if he is carrying a knock, and the same is true for Coleman.
Everton have a two-week break after this contest before they face Fulham, so it may well be that Dyche has a fully-fit squad to choose from come then – Dele Alli aside.
Advancing in the cup is very important, of course, but that will not come at the expense of risking players who are not fully fit.
With this being the Toffees’ first game since the latest PSR charge, expect it to be a good atmosphere inside Goodison Park regardless of the side fielded.
In other Everton news, a fuming Simon Jordan went on another rant following the Toffees’ PSR charge.