Everton take on Bournemouth on Tuesday evening but they will do so without a key man in their XI
David Moyes is without a key man(Image: PA)
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Michael Keane will miss out on Everton’s game with Bournemouth.
The centre back, one of the Blues’ best performers of the campaign to date, misses out with an injury issue that will cause another reshuffle as David Moyes attempts to deal with fitness problems and the suspension of Idrissa Gueye.
Keane is replaced by Carlos Alcaraz with Jake O’Brien switching from right back to partner James Tarkowski and James Garner looking set to cover him.
That means Tim Iroegbunam, who was taken off at half-time last time out, is set to join Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the middle.
Keane’s injury adds to the selection nightmare facing Moyes during a challenging week of fixtures. The high of the famous win at Old Trafford last week was marred by Gueye’s three-match ban for his altercation with Keane - one that left the Blues short in midfield for the 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Newcastle United on Saturday.
Keane joins Jarrad Branthwaite, Seamus Coleman and Merlin Rohl on the injured list, while Gueye will also be suspended for the home game with Nottingham Forest at the weekend. Nathan Patterson has returned from his groin issue to make the matchday squad, however.
While Everton will seek to end their miserable record at Bournemouth tonight, Moyes will be hoping further problems are not created for the weekend - Iroegbunam and Garner are both one yellow card from missing Sean Dyche’s first return to Everton since he left the club in January.
Team: Pickford; Mykolenko, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Garner; Iroegbunam, Dewsbury-Hall; Grealish, Alcaraz, Ndiaye; Barry