LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: David Moyes, Manager of Everton, looks on as he inspects the pitch before the Premier League 2026/27 match between Everton and Ipswich Town at Hill Dickinson Stadium on September 19, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
David Moyes will be left with 11 Everton senior squad members over the three-week international break (Image: Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
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Ending the international break with the Everton squad stronger than how it entered it will be the chief priority at Finch Farm over the next three weeks. David Moyes faces an intriguing challenge as he attempts to juggle giving players time to rest, reset but remain match fit across an unusually long halt to the domestic campaign.
He will need to do that while knowing he has no control over those of his squad heading out for international action, with six of the starting XI that finished the 1-0 win over Ipswich Town set to represent England over various age groups and others, from Vitalii Mykolenko to Braiden Graham, also called up by their countries.
The starting point for that will be two players who will remain on Merseyside, Christian Norgaard and Merlin Rohl.
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Norgaard is yet to feature since signing from Arsenal in a £7m summer deal. Moyes has previously said he had not expected the 32-year-old to miss the opening tranche of games.
Given the Denmark international’s experience and his strength as a defensive midfielder, a role he fits into more naturally than those around him in Everton's central midfield, his availability would be a significant boost for Moyes.
The target for Norgaard's return has been Hull City next month for some time, and while it would take him time to gain match sharpness, he has the potential to be an asset to the squad.
Rohl, meanwhile, has missed recent games through injury and, while his favoured position is in central midfield, a crowded position for the Blues, his versatility would be useful for Moyes.
Rohl ended last season on the right wing and started this season at right-back and, while the emergence of Tyler Dibling and addition of Ainsley Maitland-Niles means he would be unlikely to start in those positions, in a threadbare squad he is one of the main back-up options and to have him on the bench would allow for useful competition and cover.
Those at the training ground will no doubt be tracking the progress of James Garner and Jarrad Branthwaite as they represent England over the coming weeks.
Moyes was delighted for both players and takes pride in stars earning international breakthroughs on his watch. It is not lost on anyone, however, that Branthwaite is in the early stages of a return from a series of hamstring injuries that decimated last season, while Garner went through hernia surgery at the start of pre-season.
Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite during the England press conference at St George's Park on Wednesday
Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite during the England press conference at St George's Park on Wednesday(Image: PA Media)
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The hope is that neither are pushed unnecessarily hard while with Thomas Tuchel’s squad.
Back in Liverpool, Moyes is expected to look at intra-squad games and behind-closed-doors matches to explore options with the players at his disposal.
Chief among his plans is to find cover for Thierno Barry. While Moyes is happy with the forward’s start to the season, the collapse of the Falorin Balogun deal on deadline day - which came after Beto was sold to Fiorentina - left the former France youth international as the only senior forward at the club.
Moyes is concerned that asking Barry to play 90 minutes every game is a tough ask but has limited resources to stretch across his forward line. The improvement in Dibling in the past week offers the Everton manager the potential to look at Brennan Johnson up front, his natural reaction against Wolves in the Carabao Cup. Rohl returning to fitness would provide another option on the right of midfield.
But with most clubs able to replace their front three with specialists in every game, Moyes only has five recognised options. That means having to be open to testing the versatility of his players - like with Rohl on the right.
Another option he is expected to look at is whether Charly Alcaraz, the match-winner against Wolves, could dovetail with Barry and share the frontline attacking duties.