David Moyes has Jake O’Brien replacement plan in place for Everton vs Man United
Jake O’Brien will be a notable absentee for Everton when they face Manchester United on Monday.
O’Brien was shown a red card as Everton fell to defeat against Bournemouth last time out, as he brought down Amine Adli when he was the last man.
He will now miss the Blues’ next three matches, with the Hill Dickinson Stadium clash with the Red Devils being the first of the suspension.
David Moyes has already confirmed that he has a plan to replace the Republic of Ireland defender for the contest on 23 February.
How will Moyes replace O’Brien after red card
While Moyes did not directly confirm who would replace O’Brien when Michael Carrick’s side comes to town, he mentioned a potential solution.
The Scotsman gave an update on Seamus Coleman’s fitness and suggested that others can slot in, implying that he already has an idea of how to sort it out.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on 20 February, he said: “Seamus is fit and available as well, we have got people we can choose, so we will move on from it, he [O’Brien] got sent off and these things happen.”
What options does Moyes have for Everton vs Man United?
The aforementioned Coleman could be in line for a rare start, but that seems unlikely given that he has just come back from injury.
The club captain has only featured five times this season, as age seems to finally be catching up with him after a storied career in L4.
Nathan Patterson is another option, but the Scotsman is yet to earn Moyes’ full trust, which is why O’Brien, a centre-back naturally, has been playing ahead of him in the position.
The most logical option would be moving James Garner back from midfield, as he has shown that he is capable of standing in previously.
The former Manchester United academy star has proven that he can perform reliably at either right-back or left-back when he has been called upon to do so.
In such a big game, Moyes needs someone that he can trust, and he may well decide that Garner is that man.
Merlin Rohl or Tim Iroegbunam may have to slot into midfield if that is the option that the manager chooses in O’Brien’s absence.
Alternatively, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could drop back into a deeper role with either Carlos Alcaraz or Harrison Armstrong playing in the number 10.
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