David Moyes has made two changes from the side that beat Manchester United at Old Trafford
David Moyes' side take on Newcastle in the Premier League
David Moyes' side take on Newcastle in the Premier League
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Tim Iroegbunam and Jake O’Brien are back in the Everton starting line-up.
David Moyes was always going to have to make at least two changes from the side that started at Old Trafford and the pair were the most likely candidates to win his backing.
Iroegbunam replaces Idrissa Gueye, who misses out as he starts his three-match ban for the red card he received in the win at Manchester United on Monday night.
Everton challenged the suspension and an independent regulatory commission is understood to have considered claims of wrongful dismissal and excessive punishment from the club. Both were rejected.
That paves the way for Iroegbunam’s fourth start of the season in the Premier League. Given Merlin Rohl is out following an operation on a hernia issue and Harrison Armstrong is on loan at Preston North End, where he is recovering from a groin injury, the 22-year-old was the only natural central midfielder available to Moyes. He started the last home game, the 2-0 win over Fulham before the international break.
O’Brien had been Moyes’ favoured option on the right of the defence since the Blues boss returned to the club in January. He instead opted to put James Garner there against Fulham and then started Seamus Coleman in Manchester, only for the 38-year-old to suffer a hamstring issue in the opening 10 minutes.
With Everton’s central midfield options already limited, Moyes could not consider Garner to return to that slot and, with Nathan Patterson still recovering from injury, O’Brien was always the most likely replacement.
Beyond that, Moyes continues to stick with Thierno Barry up front. This will be the striker’s third consecutive start after he impressed in the previous two wins. He is still yet to score since his summer move from Villarreal, however.
First XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Mykolenko, Keane, Tarkowski, O'Brien; Garner, Iroebugnam; Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Barry