Everton welcome back Sean Dyche on Saturday as he brings his Nottingham Forest side to the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the very first time.
It will be the first of two meetings between Everton and Forest this month, with the two clubs also meeting at the City Ground before the New Year.
David Moyes will be looking to make it four wins out of the last five Premier League games for the Blues.
However, the Toffees will be well aware of just how their last game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium went against Newcastle United.
An interesting storyline is brewing ahead of the game, with Dyche wishing for a positive welcome from Everton fans on Saturday afternoon.
With the reunion just hours away, Chris Sutton has sent a clear message to the Everton fans attending the game.
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Chris Sutton’s Sean Dyche message to Everton fans
Just two weeks ago, Dyche picked up three points at Anfield in an unlikely victory that marked his actual return to Merseyside.
It is almost a full year on from the 54-year-old being sacked by The Friedkin Group and it will be his first return to Everton since.
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Speaking to BBC Sport, Sutton has urged the Everton fans going to the game to offer Dyche the welcome back that he deserves.
What type of reception does Sean Dyche deserve on Saturday? 🤐
“The Toffees are a strong bunch in many ways, it may be good, bad or indifferent [the reaction he gets], but they know deep down the work that we did.
“I know there is plenty of them because they all came and told me.”
Sean Dyche on how he will be welcomes back to Everton.
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“I don’t know what kind of reception Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche will get from Everton fans, but I’d like to think it will be a good one – based on how he dealt with the turmoil at the club when he was in charge there,” he said.
“Given the circumstances at Everton, Dyche did a good job there – and I think he will do a good job at Forest too.”
Sutton predicted Everton to lose against Manchester United, but he has now learned his lesson and is backing the Blues to beat Forest.
However, all eyes and ears will be on Dyche when he walks out of the tunnel for the first time at the new state-of-the-art home of Everton.
What David Moyes has said about Sean Dyche’s Everton return
In recent weeks, James Garner has taken a swipe at Dyche for some of the football he had Everton playing during his time in the dugout.
The 54-year-old was not everyone’s cup of tea, but he did manage to keep the club afloat during a difficult period.
Sean Dyche should be worried ahead of Saturday’s trip to Merseyside! 😳
An overview of Sean Dyche's Premier League away record against Everton.
Credit: Getty Images/Jack Thomas.
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During his press conference on Friday, Moyes insisted he believes Dyche did a lot of good for the Blues.
“From afar, it looked as if he steered the ship, which was in big trouble and was sinking and he did a great job to make sure they were still in the Premier League,” said Moyes.
“I think he did a brilliant job in what the situation was.”
Even if some fans don’t appreciate the work done by Dyche, booing on Saturday probably is not the answer, with Everton currently in a positive position under the current regime.
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