Sean Dyche makes Arnaut Danjuma selection error for Everton v Nottingham Forest
Sean Dyche made four changes to his Everton side to face Nottingham Forest in a crucial Premier League encounter on Sunday (21 April) but he should have made one wildcard selection.
With Luton Town having been hammered 5-1 at home by Brentford a day prior, the Toffees have a golden opportunity at Goodison Park to really put daylight between themselves and the bottom three.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Idrissa Gueye returning from injuries, while Jack Harrison and Andre Gomes are back into the XI as well.
Arnaut Danjuma should have started for Everton v Nottingham Forest
But one player who wasn’t available when Everton were hammered 6-0 by Chelsea last time out (15 April) was fringe loan winger Arnaut Danjuma.
The 27-year-old was named on the bench for this crucial clash with Forest, who like Everton have been affected by Profit and Sustainability punishments this season, yet you feel like Dyche should have rolled the dice and started him here.
He may only have five Premier League starts to his name this season, the last of which was 30 January in a goalless draw with Fulham, but today felt like a day to take a chance and roll the dice.
In a game that’s likely to be tense and scarce in terms of chances, Danjuma might have provided a bit of spark or a moment of magic to ensure the game finishes in Everton’s favour.
Of course, there is still a possibility he does that should Dyche turn to him off the bench, but today just feels like an opportunity missed to do something different.
Who will provide Everton spark?
Everton posted their full starting line-up on X ahead of the crucial match on Merseyside, with ever-present Jordan Pickford between the sticks.
The back four was boosted by the highly-rated Jarrad Branthwaite being passed fit enough to play, and he’ll play alongside James Tarkowski despite going off injured against Chelsea.
Ashley Young and Vitalii Mykolenko flank the centre-halves, with injuries to Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson seeing Young drop into the right-back position.
But it is the creative spark that fans will be worried about. Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil are tasked with creating the chances, with the former being hit and miss and the latter also showing patchy form this term.
Further forward in the attack, Abdoulaye Doucoure will play in an advanced midfield role just behind leading striker Calvert-Lewin, though he’s also expected to drop back and assist midfield duo Idrissa Gueye and Andre Gomes for large spells of the match.
Everton simply have to win this game if they’re to avoid being pulled further into the relegation dogfight, and with a chance to go five points clear of 18th-placed Luton, you might’ve thought Dyche would have taken more of a gamble.
If Danjuma can make an impact off the bench with the game still in the balance, he’ll prove to Dyche that he’s got a big part to play in Everton’s survival bid.
In other Everton news, sources state that Dyche is now at risk of getting the sack at Goodison Park.
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