Everton are back in Premier League action again this weekend, with the international break having hopefully left the squad feeling refreshed after a tough start to the new season.
Losing their opening three matches is not something they are unfamiliar with, but the manner of their latest defeat, collapsing with just nine minutes left, left a particularly sour taste in the mouth of the fanbase.
Forced to stew with that as their most recent memory, at least one man has been on hand to try and brew some positivity, with John Textor revealing all about his Everton takeover.
However, Sean Dyche cannot get caught up in such off-pitch issues, as he still has a job to do.
Things don’t get any easier though with a trip to Villa Park, a stadium where their hosts lost just three times in the Premier League last campaign.
Predicted Everton XI for Premier League match vs Aston Villa
Despite the defeat, their recent performance against AFC Bournemouth was actually an impressive one. So, with that in mind, wholesale changes are not expected.
Instead, enforced ones will be the theme of the afternoon, with just three personnel tweaks predicted.
Fresh from earning two more clean sheets with England, Jordan Pickford returns to Goodison Park unscathed.
He will sit behind a back four which should see a couple of changes: one enforced and one tactical.
The first will naturally come at right-back, with Seamus Coleman expected to be injured after being withdrawn early against England. Ashley Young is one option to fill that vacancy, but having already shown his faith in him before, perhaps this might mark another chance for 19-year-old Roman Dixon to continue his development.
It would be just his second-ever Premier League start, and add some much-needed pace to their defence.
Jake O’Brien is the other change that surely gets made, replacing Michael Keane to hand James Tarkowski a new partner.
Vitaliy Mykolenko will almost definitely maintain his spot too.
Then, moving into midfield, the third and final change is expected here too.
Having failed to play a single minute in the Premier League yet, but started and impressed in the EFL Cup, a recall for James Garner wouldn’t be too surprising to play alongside Tim Iroegbunam.
This midfield could be one that stays locked down for the next decade on Merseyside, so getting them together as early as possible is advisable.
It also leaves Idrissa Gana Gueye as a fine option from the bench if they need to see out a match.
That therefore leaves the front four untouched, with Jack Harrison and Iliman Ndiaye flanking Dwight McNeil in his new central role.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin should continue up front.
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