David Moyes offers 'much better' injury update as Everton team news drops vs Chelsea

David Moyes has delivered his pre-match press conference ahead of Everton's clash with Chelsea.

The Toffees welcome Xabi Alonso's side to Hill Dickinson Stadium for a 12:30pm kick-off on Saturday.

Still unbeaten in all competitions this season, Moyes' men face their toughest test yet in the form of the Stamford Bridge outfit.

Last time out saw the Toffees held to a frustrating 2-2 draw away at newly-promoted Hull City.

With Vitalii Mykolenko missing that game through injury, the Everton boss decided to deploy Jarrad Branthwaite as a makeshift left-back.

But when it comes to naming his starting XI for this weekend, Moyes has no reason to make that same dice roll again.

What has David Moyes said about Vitalii Mykolenko's fitness for Chelsea?

Collecting a muscle injury whilst away on international duty with Ukraine, Mykolenko's absence has highlighted Everton's lack of left-back depth.

As a result, Evertonians will be hoping for positive news regarding his injury status ahead of this weekend's game.

Speaking in his pre-Chelsea press conference via Everton's YouTube channel Moyes has offered a positive update on Mykolenko's fitness.

"Myko's (Mykolenko) doing much better. Myko's got a chance for the game," he said.

This makes it sounds as though the full-back will be pushing to start against Chelsea.

So, should Moyes bring Mykolenko immediately back into the starting XI this weekend, or should caution still be exercised?

Moyes has squad-management no-brainer with Mykolenko decision

Despite Mykolenko being passed fit to play against Chelsea, Moyes needs to take full precaution with him.

The last thing Everton will want to see happen is the Ukrainian rushed back into the fray before he's fully ready, only to injure himself once again.

Behind him, Everton don't have a natural senior left-back as cover, so keeping Mykolenko fit and firing this season is going to be vital.

Moyes received a lot of flak for his decision to start Branthwaite at left-back against Hull, especially when he had the likes of Jake O'Brien and Merlin Rohl on the bench.

Many felt the wiser option would've been to start one of those two at right-back, and move Ainsley Maitland-Niles over to left-back.

This would've enabled Branthwaite to stay in central defence alongside James Tarkowski, whilst also meaning Michael Keane didn't have to start.

Both of Hull's goals came via extremely poor defensive mistakes from Everton, which cast a further spotlight on Moyes' makeshift backline calls.

O'Brien and Rohl are comfortable at right-back, and Maitland-Niles played left-back plenty of times during his spell with Arsenal.

Moyes has zero excuse not to enact this plan against Chelsea, and if he goes with his Hull backline again and it backfires, he will face the wrath of the supporters.