Everton manager Sean Dyche is hopeful of a double injury boost with Jarrad Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson close to making their returns to full fitness, but resources remain very stretched ahead of this weekend’s trip to Leicester City.
Branthwaite, who was the subject of summer interest from Manchester United, is yet to feature this season because of a groin issue while Patterson has not played since undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury in April.
Speaking before Everton’s trip to Leicester City, Dyche said: “Jarrad is making progress and will hopefully be involved in a (under-21) game this weekend.
“Nathan Patterson, same as Jarrad,” he added.
Dyche is optimistic James Tarkowski will be available to make his fifth-straight start of the season after being rested for Everton’s Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Southampton in midweek.
“We’re hopeful on James Tarkowski,” said Dyche .”He trained today and we’ll see if there’s a reaction.”
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Vitaliy Mykolenko both trained on Thursday having missed the cup game through illness and Dyche is “hopeful” the duo will be available for Saturday.
There was less positive news in the form of Michael Keane, who will undergo a precautionary scan to determine the severity of an issue picked up in last weekend’s defeat to Aston Villa.
Should one of Tarkowski or Keane be unavailable, summer signing Jake O’Brien is likely to make his Premier League debut having joined from Lyon.
Idrissa Gueye has been given time off following a family illness, meaning one of Abdoulaye Doucoure or Orel Mangala will likely partner Tim Iroegbunam in midfield.
Dyche also confirmed club captain Seamus Coleman recovery from injury is going to take “longer than we hoped”.
“It’s been an awkward run from pre-season,” Dyche said. “This week we’ve been as stretched as we’ve ever been.”
Everton are bottom of the table having begun the new campaign with four defeats, conceding 13 goals in the process.
(Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
