Jarrad Branthwaite and Jame Tarkowski have both returned to training this week after missing the trip to Arsenal last weekend, and the pair could feature for Everton as they host Chelsea.
“Both hopefully will be in and around the squad tomorrow.
“We did great without them, so, if we didn’t have them, I’d be fine – but we’ve got them back amongst it, I think.”
All the talk this week around the visitors has been around the measly fine the Stamford Bridge side have been served for the years of financial
infractions they had committed under previous ownership, while ironically Everton were docked points by the Premier League for overspending on their new stadium and their reliance on sponsorships that later became outlawed after Russia invaded Ukraine.
For Chelsea, Liam Rosenior will be without Levi Colwill, Trevor Chalobah, Filip Jorgensen, Reece James and Mykhailo Mudryk. Malo Gusto and Benoit Badiashile could return following illnesses with Jamie Gittens set to have a late fitness test.
Who’s Out?
Jack Grealish (foot) is unavailable for the rest of the season and Tyrique George is ineligible to face his parent club. Carlos Alcaraz and Seamus Coleman are expected to be out for a couple more weeks at least.
Everton squad available vs Chelsea
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Travers, King
Defenders: Keane, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko, Coleman (INJURED), Patterson, Aznou
Midfielders: Gueye, Garner, Iroegbunam, Dewsbury-Hall, Röhl, Armstrong
Wingers: McNeil, Ndiaye, Grealish (INJURED), Dibling, Alcaraz (INJURED), George (INELIGIBLE)
Strikers: Beto, Barry
Tactics and Formation
Everton will likely stick to the 4-2-3-1 they’ve used so far.
Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)
Jordan Pickford – 9/10
Vitaliy Mykolenko – 8/10
Jarrad Branthwaite – 6/10 Sounds like he might be fit again
James Tarkowski – 7/10 Everton’s ironman surprisingly missed a game last week
Jake O’Brien – 7/10
James Garner – 9/10 Will be celebrating a well-earned England call-up
Idrissa Gueye – 9/10
Dwight McNeil – 8/10
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 9/10 Unfortunate not to get a call-up as well
Iliman Ndiaye – 9/10
Beto – 7/10 Seems to be the flavour of the month now over Barry
Bench
Mark Travers
Nathan Patterson
Adam Aznou
Michael Keane
Tim Iroegbunam
Merlin Rohl
Harrison Armstrong
Tyler Dibling
Thierno Barry
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