An overview of the decisions facing Everton manager David Moyes as he looks ahead to the visit of Ipswich Town to Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday
Tyler Dibling after the Carabao Cup third round match between Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Photo by Everton FC/Everton FC via Getty Images
Tyler Dibling after the Carabao Cup third round match between Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Photo by Everton FC/Everton FC via Getty Images
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Harrison Armstrong faces a battle to be fit as Everton prepare to host Ipswich Town before the international break.
The teenager has started every Premier League match this season, producing a fine run of form to cement himself within David Moyes’ first0team plans.
But he missed the Carabao Cup win over Wolves with an injury suffered in training this week, although assistant manager Alan Irvine was clear the issue was not thought to be serious when he spoke to the media after Wednesday's match.
Irvine said of the midfielder: "He got a little injury in training. We assessed him this morning and he wasn't ready. We are hopeful he will be ready for the weekend. It is not a major injury."
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Merlin Rohl is the other doubt after he was also absent in midweek. The midfielder suffered an injury in the dramatic 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United joining Christian Norgaard on the sidelines.
Moyes has previously said Norgaard, yet to feature since his summer arrival from Arsenal, was targeting a return after the international break.
That Everton's fitness issues are at the heart of central midfield is useful for the manager, given that area is one of few where he has genuine depth.
Even if Armstrong and Rohl were unavailable against Ipswich, he can count on James Garner and Hayden Hackney, who has had a positive start to his Blues career.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carlos Alcaraz, the match-winner against Wolves, offer options in the more attacking central role Moyes tends to operate with.
The biggest question for the Everton boss, who will likely bring back Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski after the centre backs were rested against Wolves, will be what to do up front and on the right wing.
Thierno Barry hit four goals in his first two games of the campaign but has now gone four matches without making the net bulge. He has had good chances in each of those games - a sign he is now reading the game better.
But that he could have added to his tally will not be lost on Moyes, who introduced Brennan Johnson as a striker on Wednesday.
Should he decide to persevere with Johnson as a forward option it would open up the right flank for either Tyrique George, should Jack Grealish earn his first league start since his return, or provide a chance for Tyler Dibling to build on his man-of-the-match display from that position against Wolves.
It is a good problem for Moyes to have.