Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Everton’s players will be taking to the pitch on Sunday for the very first time since announcement of the team being put back on the market.
David Moyes’ men are making the trip to Humberside to face Hull City as the Toffees aim to maintain their unbeaten start to the 2026/27 season. However, the game will be overshadowed by The Friedkin Group putting Everton up for sale on Friday.
The focus internally will remain on the task at hand, though. Ahead of the game Moyes will have some big decisions to make on how to field his side following what has been an extremely long international break.
Vitalii Mykolenko injury update could change David Moyes’ plans
The extended international break provided Everton with a real injury scare as left-back Vitalii Mykolenko sustained a muscle injury during his time away with Ukraine. On Friday, Moyes confirmed that the defender could still play on Sunday.
“Yeah, he’s got a chance for Sunday. The extra day might help, so we’ll see. We’ve really just got the England players back today, so we just had them back for the first time. Hopefully they’ll all be fit and ready to go,” said the Everton boss in Friday’s press conference.
Having allowed Adam Aznou to depart on loan for the 2026/27 season, Mykolenko is currently Everton’s only senior option at left-back. An injury to the Ukraine international would be a significant issue for Moyes, who would have to consider playing Jarrad Branthwaite or James Garner out of position.
Naturally, fans would have been concerned about how the Blues would cope without their regular left-back. Although Everton may be running a risk in potentially allowing Mykolenko to play, having a natural left-back available at Moyes’ disposal would come as a considerable boost to the 63-year-old.
James Garner has benefitted from extended international break
Branthwaite received an England call-up from Thomas Tuchel which came as a welcome surprise for those on Merseyside. Garner, however, was not so fortunate with his fitness issues from the summer hamstringing him ever so slightly.
The Everton midfielder has now had a number of weeks to work on his fitness as he continues to strive to get back to 100 per cent. His time back at Finch Farm will likely provide him with an automatic spot in Moyes’ start XI on Sunday.
There has also been some promising news in regards to summer signing Christian Norgaard who is yet to even play for the Blues in a competitive game. The Denmark international did earn some minutes during a behind closed doors friendly at the Hill Dickinson Stadium during the break.
“Well, we had a behind-closed-doors game, and he got a bit of first minutes he’s had for a long time. He’s making progress. I don’t know if he’s quite ready yet to be involved, but with our numbers being so short, it might be something I have to look at. If I had my way, then I would certainly give him a good bit more time if I could,” Moyes said on Friday.
Sunday will likely come too soon for Norgaard who also has to compete with Harrison Armstrong and Hayden Hackney for a spot in the side. This is still a positive step towards Everton returning to full strength.
Predicted XI: Pickford; Maitland-Niles, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Armstrong; George, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry.