An extended three-week break right in the most meaningful part of the season could not have been better timed for Everton, with David Moyes able to give most of his squad a rest to recover from various niggles and fatigue.
Charly Alcaraz is back in training but not ready to play this weekend, and aside from him and Jack Grealish, everyone else is fit and available for selection.
The Toffees are in direct contention with tomorrow’s opponents Brentford for the coveted seventh spot which is virtually guaranteed for European football of some sort next season, and the fans will be hoping the Blues don’t come out looking flat after the long time off.
Keith Andrews has done an exemplary job in his first full season in charge, continuing the Bees tradition of overachieving with limited resources at the Premier League level. he will be without Aaron Hickey and Vitaly Janelt who have both resumed training but will not play yet, and will join Rico Henry, Josh Dasilva, Fábio Carvalho and Antoni Milambo on the sidelines.
Who’s Out?
Jack Grealish (foot) is unavailable for the rest of the season while Carlos Alcaraz is out for a couple more weeks at least.
Everton squad available vs Brentford
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Travers, King
Defenders: Keane, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko, Coleman, Patterson, Aznou
Midfielders: Gueye, Garner, Iroegbunam, Dewsbury-Hall, Röhl, Armstrong
Wingers: McNeil, Ndiaye, Grealish (INJURED), Dibling, Alcaraz (INJURED), George
Strikers: Beto, Barry
Tactics and Formation
Everton will likely stick to the 4-2-3-1 they’ve used so far.
Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)
Jordan Pickford – 9/10
Vitaliy Mykolenko - 8/10
Jarrad Branthwaite - 8/10
James Tarkowski – 8/10
Jake O’Brien - 8/10
James Garner - 9/10
Idrissa Gueye - 9/10
Dwight McNeil – 8/10 His defensive workrate will keep him in the squad
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - 9/10
Iliman Ndiaye – 9/10 Appears to have recovered from an injury sustained during the international break
Beto – 7/10 His recent goals have cemented his starting berth
Mark Travers
Seamus Coleman
Michael Keane
Tim Iroegbunam
Merlin Rohl
Harrison Armstrong - should have just let him stay out on loan and gained more playing time and experience.
Tyler Dibling
Tyrique George
Thierno Barry
—————————————-
Nathan Patterson and Adam Aznou will be the odd men out this week.