Sean Dyche to make four changes amid massive injury crisis – Everton predicted XI v Tottenham
Sean Dyche is predicted to make a four changes to his injury-hit side when Everton face Tottenham in their Premier League match on Saturday, 24 August.
New signings Jake O’Brien, Iliman Ndiaye and Jesper Lindstrom could all make their full debuts at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while Mason Holgate is expected to start for the first time in over a year.
James Tarkowski will miss the match after becoming the latest player on the Toffees’ long injury list, as will Ashley Young following his red card in their disastrous 3-0 defeat to Brighton on the opening day.
Dyche could also axe the ineffective Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dwight McNeil after their passive performances at Goodison Park, but is not spoilt for choice with just 14 senior players available.
Sean Dyche to make four Everton changes after Brighton defeat
Shipping three goals in game one is hardly an ideal start to the season for Jordan Pickford, but he’ll keep his place between the sticks despite the return of veteran goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to Goodison Park.
Dyche confirmed in his pre-match presser that Tarkowski would miss the match with injury, opening the door for new signing O’Brien to start alongside Michael Keane with Jarrad Branthwaite not yet ready to play.
Vitalii Mykolenko is an automatic pick at left-back, while on the right, previously out-of-favour defender Mason Holgate will come in for the suspended Ashley Young, with both of Dyche’s other right-back options – Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson – still out injured.
Tim Iroegbunam was man of the match and one of few bright sparks for the Toffees in their loss to Brighton, and Dyche would be wise to retain the youngster in midfield alongside Idrissa Gueye.
Dyche has no new injury worries in attack, but has a decision to make after his side were outclassed on all fronts by the Seagulls, with Dwight McNeil and Abdoulaye Doucoure being absolute passengers.
Jack Harrison will keep his place on the right, but on the left, Napoli loan signing Jesper Lindstrom must surely replace McNeil if the Toffees are to trouble Tottenham whatsoever on Saturday.
Similarly, another new face in Iliman Ndiaye should don his number 10 shirt in the number 10 role, displacing Doucoure in the side after he did likewise off the bench on the opening weekend.
Up front, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is another player who is on thin ice after a barren day in front of goal, but given Beto didn’t do much better in his late cameo, Dyche’s first-choice striker will keep his place.
Dyche inexplicably managed to miss Beto scoring a double for the club’s Under-21 side in midweek by leaving the game early, but regardless, that brace will not be enough for him to start ahead of the exit-linked Calvert-Lewin [Paul Joyce, 16 August] – at least yet.
In other Everton news, a Toffees transfer target has hit the club with a setback as Sean Dyche looks to address his current injury crisis.
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