Dyche to drop Jordan Pickford in six changes –Everton predicted XI v Peterborough
Sean Dyche could axe star man Jordan Pickford in one of six changes as Everton host Peterborough United in the FA Cup third round on Thursday.
Pickford has been the Toffees’ best player this term by far, but Dyche can’t risk injury to his key man in the FA Cup at Goodison Park on 9 January.
As a result, Joao Virginia will likely start between the sticks, with Jake O’Brien, Nathan Patterson, Jack Harrison, Harrison Armstrong and Dominic Calvert-Lewin – facing a late fitness test – the other changes.
From the side which started the Blues’ 1-0 loss at Bournemouth last time out, Armando Broja and Jesper Lindstrom are injured, while Idrissa Gueye, Ashley Young and James Tarkowski could all be rested too.
Everton veterans to be axed by Sean Dyche v Peterborough
Pickford is far from the only senior figure likely to be rested for an FA Cup tie which, if things don’t go to plan at Goodison, could be the last match in charge for Dyche given the speculation over his future.
As a result, the Toffees’ fringe players need to make an impression as the 53-year-old looks to pick up a morale-boosting victory and spark a Premier League revival in the process, having not won in five games.
In front of Virginia, Dyche will likely call upon the rarely-used O’Brien and Patterson to fill in for Tarkowski and Young, the latter duo having been regulars this season.
Minutes in the legs of Jarrad Branthwaite are valuable regardless of the competition, and with Vitalii Mykolenko next to him and Orel Mangala in front, the Blues should have a solid enough defensive base.
Next to Mangala, however, may well be 17-year-old Harrison Armstrong, who has impressed in bench cameos of late and should be a player Dyche sees as ready to make the step up to the starting side.
That judgement may come too soon for Omari Benjamin though, who could well feature off the bench but is unlikely to start, meaning Abdoulaye Doucoure keeps his place in attacking midfield.
Doucoure, like fellow veterans Young and Gueye, would be rested in ideal circumstances, but with no Dwight McNeil, James Garner or Tim Iroegbunam to pad out the midfield, he keeps his place.
The undroppable Iliman Ndiaye therefore stays out on the left flank as Jack Harrison comes in for Lindstrom on the opposite flank, while both Broja and Calvert-Lewin are touch-and-go to feature.
Calvert-Lewin’s profligacy is seen as a huge cause of the Toffees’ problems, but Dyche will hope that if he’s fit enough to appear and can score against the Posh, both his and Everton’s form could skyrocket.
In other Everton news, Ally McCoist mooted a “catch-22” as the Toffees look to add reinforcements to their squad this month.
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