Everton will definitely be without Seamus Coleman on Saturday and in all likelihood Michael Keane, too, giving David Moyes a headache at right-back
David Moyes speaks at his Everton press conference to preview the game against Nottingham Forest
David Moyes speaks at his Everton press conference to preview the game against Nottingham Forest
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David Moyes has revealed Michael Keane is a doubt for Everton's home clash with Nottingham Forest on Saturday. And the Blues boss has confirmed club captain Seamus Coleman is facing a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
It leaves Moyes down to the bare bones for Sean Dyche's first return to Everton following his departure from the club in January and his appointment as Forest manager in October.
Centre-back Keane missed Tuesday's 1-0 win at Bournemouth while right-back Coleman has been sidelined since coming off early in the 1-0 victory at Manchester United last month.
And Moyes said at his press conference: “I’m not sure he (Keane) is going to be right. He played against Newcastle with an injury. Look, he couldn’t quite make it. I’m not sure yet.
“Seamus pulled his hamstring, so Seamus is going to be out for a little while. I don't know exactly the timescale for it. We are short.
“We were very short going to Bournemouth and the same again but it happens to other teams, not just us.”
The versatile James Garner filled in at right-back in midweek after Jake O’Brien moved into his natural centre-back position alongside James Tarkowski after Keane failed to recover from the problem he felt in the 4-1 home loss to Newcastle United.
But Garner could be needed back in midfield on Saturday against Forest as Tim Iroegbunam has joined Idrissa Gueye on the suspension list after picking up his fifth booking of the campaign at Bournemouth.
Moyes, who is also without centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite and midfielder Merlin Rohl through injury, had already revealed that the fit-again Nathan Patterson could come into his thinking at right-back.
But if Keane does not make it, it appears that O'Brien will continue in the middle. It is a position that his manager admits is his best.
Moyes said: "He played really well at Fulham and Newcastle at the back end of last season at centre-back when both Jarrad and Tarky were out. He also had a couple of games at centre-back in the summer during pre-season.
"We thought he done a really good job as a right-back last season, maybe not as much this season, that's for sure, but he is a centre-back playing out of position. But if he doesn't play right-back he's got to move out Tarky, Jarrad and Keano, and they have done really well.
"But he played really well the other night. He's a centre-back, not a right-back, we're well aware of that, but while we're short of right-backs, he might be the best choice we've got."
And on Iroegbunam, who impressed against Bournemouth after he was brought off at half-time against Newcastle, Moyes said: "I'm pleased for Tim.
"He played really well and got better as the game wore on and was really important. He's someone who we like, we think there's a player in there, and the more games he gets, the more he'll keep adapting and getting used to it.
"He managed himself very well through the game (after the booking) and helped us get a good victory."