Everton manager Sean Dyche has given an update on the current fitness of Dwight McNeil.
Sean Dyche today addressed the availability of Everton winger Dwight McNeil in his press conference.
As quoted by the Liverpool Echo, Dyche said of McNeil, “Dwight’s alright, probably went back in a little bit quick if I’m being honest and I asked a lot of him in the last performance but he’ll get true fitness coming quickly.”
McNeil made his first Premier League appearance of the season, after recovering from an ankle injury, as a late substitute against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
The 23-year-old was then drafted into the Everton starting XI when the Toffees hosted Arsenal at Goodison Park last time out.
However, the £25,000-a-week wide man struggled to impact the match against the Gunners. He wasn’t as sharp as he usually is and failed to greatly test the Arsenal right-back, Ben White.
It is easy to see, though, why Dyche was so desperate to get McNeil back into his team at the earliest opportunity. However, this ploy might have backfired had the player picked up another knock.
McNeil set for vital role at Everton
McNeil is a player Dyche knows well from the time they spent working together at Burnley, and he was the Toffees’ top scorer last season with seven Premier League strikes. He also chipped in with three assists.
Having joined Everton from Burnley in a deal worth £20 million in 2022, McNeil has generally impressed in what has often been a struggling side. Dyche will once again need him to be consistently at his best this season. It is good news for the club that he is fast approaching full fitness.
He is very likely to feature against Brentford this weekend and Everton are in dire need of a positive result in that match. Having a fully fit and firing McNeil in the line up certainly improves their chances of beating the Bees on Saturday afternoon.
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