Everton are going to have some interesting team selections ahead of them over the coming weeks due to absences and injuries.
David Moyes is now being tested as the January transfer window approaches, with his squad already looking rather depleted.
The Toffees are going into Saturday’s game against Newcastle United in fine form, but they are going to be missing a number of players.
Idrissa Gana Gueye has apologised to his Everton teammates after getting himself sent off on Monday evening for hitting Michael Keane.
But it is not just the Everton veteran who will miss the next few games as Merlin Rohl has recently undergone surgery on a hernia issue.
However, Moyes has now admitted that he has done a lot of thinking and has a plan to address his midfield woes.
Manchester United v Everton - Premier League
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
David Moyes shares his Everton plan ahead of Idrissa Gana Gueye’s suspension
Everton News columnist Alan Myers is now hoping Everton try to sign a new midfielder when the January transfer window opens.
The senior options are limited to James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam for Saturday’s game against Newcastle United.
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But speaking to the media on Friday, Moyes has admitted he is willing to move Charly Alcaraz and Dwight McNeil into midfield if needed.
“We are quite short. But we have other people who can play in there: Charly Alcaraz and Dwight McNeil if we need to as well,” said Moyes.
Plenty of interesting takeaways from David Moyes’ pre-Newcastle press conference…
“But overall, the four midfield players which we had, Merlin [Rohl] probably not going to be back until the start of January and obviously Idrissa’s suspension keeps up pretty short in that area.”
On the back of these issues, Moyes admitted Everton will consider a recall for Harrison Armstrong, but ideally he’d like to see him remain at Preston North End.
A busy fixture schedule lies ahead for the Blues before the January window opens and that may well see Moyes forced into being creative in that midfield department.
Everton’s lack of squad depth is showing already
Not everything could be solved in just one summer transfer window, and Moyes was more than aware of that.
McNeil had been linked with a January exit from Everton, but that has now been put on hold due to the limited resources Moyes is working with.
Both McNeil and Alcaraz have suffered from limited minutes this season under the 62-year-old manager.
25/26 Premier League Charly Alcaraz Dwight McNeil
Appearances 9 4
Minutes 246 54
Goals 0 0
Assists 0 0
The additions of Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have seen their opportunities diminish since the summer.
However, the pair could be thrown a lifeline in the coming weeks to prove their worth to the team by playing in a slightly deeper midfield role.
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