Idrissa Gueye’s ill-advised flare-up at Everton teammate Michael Keane that saw him get sent off in the win at Manchester United for throwing hands at the defender has created quite a headache for manager David Moyes.
Already without summer signing Merlin Rohl who had minor surgery on a hernia, the Blues will now be without Gana for three games which is the customary suspension for violent conduct. Given that the midfielder will possibly only play one more game after that before he and Senegal teammate Iliman Ndiaye then head off to the Africa Cup of Nations, Moyes has quite the headache in ensuring there is no drop-off in quality in the middle of the park.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference earlier today ahead of the Saturday night tilt with visiting Newcastle United, Moyes revealed that the Toffees had appealed the three-match suspension with the authorities but had been rejected without a reason provided.
> “We have appealed it, and our appeal was turned down. We haven’t been given any reason why it was turned down, but we did appeal it immediately.”
Along with the Magpies tomorrow, the Blues will be without Gana for the trip to Bournemouth and the visit by former manager Sean Dyche and his Nottingham Forest side.
> “It was over immediately when it was done, that was it. We moved on quite quickly and it was all sorted within the dressing room.
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> “We want passion, we don’t always want it in the style that it showed up on Monday night.
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> “We certainly want that passion and that commitment from our players.”
Youngster Harrison Armstrong has been starring at Preston North End where he is on loan, and Moyes was asked if there was any thought to recalling the 18-year-old from his loan where he has featured 11 times to rave reviews for Paul Heckingbottom’s side.
> “I’m really happy with how Harrison is doing. He’s coming on great.
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> “I think Preston would be hugely disappointed if we took him back. But he’s also got an injury at the moment as well, he’s been out for the last few games with an injury at Preston but hopefully he’s due back very shortly.
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> “We’ll consider it in January. But I think at the moment him getting the games at the age he’s at and where he’s performing and Preston hopefully will have a really good chance of making the play-offs and I think for him it’s a good level to be playing at.”
With Rohl still on his way back, what was Moyes plan to beef up the midfield over the busy festive season?
> “We are light in midfield. Merlin having an operation has left us light, so we are quite short, but we’ve got other people who can play in there like Charly Alcaraz and Dwight McNeil if we need to as well.
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> “Overall, the four midfield players that we had, Merlin is probably not going to be back until the start of January and Idrissa’s absence keeps us short in that area.”
Moyes also provided an update on club captain Seamus Coleman who left the game on Monday with an injury after just ten minutes played, but had nothing new on Jarrad Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson who are also recovering from surgeries.
> “Seamus has got a small injury. We don’t think it’s too bad but he just felt his hamstring early in the game, which was really disappointing from his point of view and ours. Jarrad is still on the way back and Patto as well.”
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