Everton boss David Moyes has issued an injury update on his squad ahead of the Toffees’ trip to Bournemouth on Tuesday evening – with the Scot hinting that he’s massively missing one star on the sidelines.
Everton were soundly beaten 4-1 at home by Newcastle United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday evening, which was by far their worst performance of the season from a defensive point of view.
The Toffees had the chance to creep into the top half of the Premier League table, but they now sit 14th and have it all to do if they are to register their first top-half finish since the 2020-21 season, where they excelled under Carlo Ancelotti.
However, David Moyes has admitted that injuries may well have played a part in their weekend demise – and the Scot has spoken ahead of the long trip down south to Bournemouth on Tuesday.
David Moyes says Everton are looking ‘okay’ ahead of Bournemouth clash but there are still absences
Appearing in his pre-match press conference, Moyes admitted that Everton are looking okay on the injury front.
However, a couple of players who are so far unnamed went into the clash bearing injuries from the 1-0 win over Manchester United last Monday, and that told – with Moyes admitting that they would have been replaced had other players been available.
Moyes said on Monday morning: “We are looking okay, but we went into the Newcastle game with a couple of boys carrying injuries from the game midweek, which they played. But possibly on another day, if we had other players available, we might have altered that.
“No excuses from that point of view. It is just that time of year where there are a lot of games coming up and part of it is suspensions and injuries.
“None of them [long-term injured players] are available for the game. As you can see we are missing Merlin [Rohl], we are missing an extra midfield player which we are lacking a little bit.
“Seamus [Coleman] would give us more cover at right back if he was available. Jarrad [Branthwaite] has been out for most of the season so we are a little bit limited to what we have got central defender wise. We’re just a little bit short in those areas but we will be fine and we’ll get through it.”
Everton are still looking for their first league win away at Bournemouth in their history, having lost their last four at the Vitality Stadium in the league, given that their only two wins on the south coast have come in cup competitions.
David Moyes is clearly missing Merlin Rohl as midfield picture remains bleak
David Moyes’ comments took clear inference that his midfield is being ravaged by injuries and suspensions.
Idrissa Gana Gueye was sent off against Manchester United last week, and with Merlin Rohl being injured, the German is unable to come into the fold to offer James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam a period of rest.
Tim Iroegbunam simply CANNOT start on Tuesday vs Bournemouth!
Had Moyes had his way, it’s likely that Iroegbunam would have only been good enough to start from the bench. Iroegbunam performed poorly against Newcastle, and with James Garner having been touted for an England call-up, that would appear that he’d have stayed in the team alongside Rohl should the latter have been available.
Rohl is not expected to be back in the mix until the Christmas period, and it could be a tough few weeks for Moyes to contend with in that regard.
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