A look at the Everton players who could be missing for Saturday's home game against West Ham United
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Everton could be without five players for their home game against West Ham United on Saturday. David Moyes comes up against his previous employers, who he steered to a first major trophy in 43 years when they lifted the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2023, but the Blues boss still has injury doubts over several of his squad.
The Scot will be asked about player fitness today when he conducts his pre-match press conference at Finch Farm at 1:30pm but before then, here’s the latest we know about Everton’s sidelined stars. A calf injury has ensured club captain Seamus Coleman hasn’t featured since the 1-1 draw at reigning champions Manchester City on Boxing Day but was back among the substitutes last time out for the 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers, alongside fellow right-back Nathan Patterson, who has been named on the bench for the last two matches, having not played since the 4-0 win over Leicester City on February 1 because of a hamstring injury.
Youssef Chermiti hasn’t kicked a ball for the first team all season but like Patterson, the Portuguese striker has been included in the most recent couple of matchday squads since Brentford. Of those yet to return, Armando Broja looks to be the closest having been photographed in full training alongside his Everton team-mates at Finch Farm this week.
The on-loan Chelsea striker could be touch and go to face the Hammers though. When asked about the Albania international a week ago, Moyes said: “He’s training, he’s joined in a little bit. He’s not fully right yet.
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“I would say after the international break would probably be the right time. There’s an outside chance that maybe he could be fit for next week.
“At the moment, I can only follow the medical team. If I was guessing, I would probably say it looks more like after the international break.”
Meanwhile, even though there is a two-and-a-half week gap in between West Ham United’s visit and Everton’s next fixture at Liverpool, the road to recovery looks a longer one for their other sidelined stars. Speaking ahead of the trip to Wolves, Moyes said: “The likes of Dwight (McNeil), Iliman (Ndiaye), Dom (Calvert-Lewin), are forward players and creative players who we’re needing back. I don’t think any of those three at the moment are really close.
“Ili is doing much better. He’s not running yet or anything but he’s certainly improving from his injury.”
Orel Mangala’s season appears to be over. The Belgium international, on loan from Olympique Lyonnais, posted a photograph of him in a hospital bed three weeks ago, saying: “Surgery was successful – thank you to the medical staff that helped to complete it! Now my recovery begins.”
The 26-year-old was forced off in Everton’s 1-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion on January 25 with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.