Everton early team news v Bournemouth – Six stars ‘ruled out’
Everton are set to be without six first-team players for their FA Cup clash with Bournemouth on Saturday, according to Ben Dinnery.
The injury expert updated via his Premier Injuries website (04 February) that Seamus Coleman remains “ruled out” despite his return date being set as 8 February, when the Toffees host the Cherries at Goodison Park.
Youssef Chermiti (thigh) and Dwight McNeil (knee) are also sidelined, but are edging closer to returning to action with an estimated return date of 26 February.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Armando Broja, meanwhile, have to wait longer before they can resume playing, while Orel Mangala’s season is unfortunately over.
David Moyes selection headache emerges ahead of Everton v Bournemouth
This means that David Moyes does not have the luxury of rotating his team for a cup game, particularly in the centre-forward position.
Three of Everton’s four strikers are currently on the treatment table, meaning Beto will likely to have to lead the line again when Bournemouth visits Merseyside this weekend.
Mangala, meanwhile, will be a huge miss for the Goodison Park outfit the rest of the season. The midfielder featured in all but one of Everton’s 22 games across all competitions prior to the 4-0 win against Leicester on Saturday, 1 February.
However, the deadline day signing of Carlos Alcaraz gives Moyes some wiggle room.
The Scot avoid putting too much pressure on James Garner by playing Abdoulaye Doucoure alongside Idrissa Gueye in the double pivot and Alcaraz in an advanced midfield role.
McNeil is another notable absentee for the Premier League club, although Doucoure has done well in his absence as he scored the opener against Leicester last weekend.
In other Everton news, James Carragher was blown away by a “magnificent” moment involving this Toffees star.
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