An examination of the potential changes to the starting 11 that David Moyes could make for Everton's next game at Hull City
Everton's Tyrique George and (inset) Christian Norgaard
Everton's Tyrique George and (inset) Christian Norgaard
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Everton will be hoping that Christian Norgaard is finally closer to making his long-awaited debut when they resume action after the first new-look extended international break of the season.
Snapped up from Arsenal on August 5 for an undisclosed fee understood to be £7million, the 32-year-old said: “I can’t wait to experience the atmosphere as an Everton player. Goodison was amazing.
“I just remember the ground was shaking – literally shaking. Then we came to the new stadium last year and I was so surprised because you often see clubs lose that intimacy and atmosphere [at a new stadium].
“But I was so overwhelmed by how good the atmosphere was as well. So, I can see that the soul from Goodison has been brought to the new stadium.”
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Speaking at the Men in Blazers live event with Roger Bennett at Hill Dickinson Stadium on August 17, Norgaard provided a fitness update as he said: “How I have been received by the fans and my team-mates is incredible. It’s about what happens out there (on the pitch) and I’m missing at the moment.
“That is a little bit frustrating. I have a small injury at the moment but soon, hopefully I’ll be ready and I can’t wait to get out there for the first time.
“We’re hopefully close, I can’t really put a time frame on it. I feel like we are getting very close, so not too long.”
During his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to Tottenham Hotspur, manager David Moyes was asked about Norgaard’s progress and he admitted that the former Denmark international’s return from injury has taken longer than expected.
The Blues boss said: “He’s still unavailable. We’re hoping we get him back maybe somewhere after the international break, that’s what we would hope.
“I don’t think we expected it to be as long as this. Look, he’s hugely important for us.
“He’s someone who we were looking forward to gaining his experience, his nous and getting to know him. At the moment, we’ve not had him on the grass yet, so that’s been the disappointing thing but hopefully it won’t be too long.”
Although he was drafted in as a natural replacement for Idrissa Gueye to occupy the ‘number six’ role in front of Everton’s defence, the former Brentford captain’s absence has enabled the club’s reigning Player of the Season James Garner to regain his place in the side having recovered from a hernia operation with home-grown hero Harrison Armstrong and another summer signing, Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough, also vying for positions in the engine room.
While Norgaard looked in decent spirits with his family alongside him as he left Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday evening following the Blues’ 1-0 win over Ipswich Town, he did still appear to be moving somewhat gingerly, hinting that there is still considerable work to be done in the coming weeks to get him up to speed for Premier League football. Unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions so far this season, Everton return to action at Hull City on Sunday October 11.
Even if that trip to the Tigers proves too soon for Norgaard, Moyes still has several other selection posers. As already mentioned, Armstrong and Hackney are both looking for a place alongside Garner in central midfield but there is also competition for places on the flanks.
Against Ipswich, Jack Grealish made his first Premier League start since the 1-0 win on January 18 at his boyhood club Aston Villa, playing on the left wing, so with the first £100million English footballer fit again, Tyrique George – who is understood to have been feeling unwell prior to the Suffolk outfit’s visit – has a battle to come back into the side.
If the former Chelsea man is recalled then it could be at the expense of Brennan Johnson on the opposite flank although Tyler Dibling is now pushing for a place after an impressive display against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup and bright appearance off the bench when facing the Tractor Boys.
Elsewhere, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has for a long time appeared to be a shoo-in for the most advanced central midfield berth, some difficult displays in recent weeks could potentially open the door for Charly Alcaraz to capitalise on his match-winning cameo in the Carabao Cup that reminded Moyes what he is capable of.