Predicted Everton XI vs Bournemouth… Sean Dyche ditches £20m player, 27-year-old returns to start

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The Premier League returns this weekend at last, with Everton’s first game after a three-week break being a trip to AFC Bournemouth.

It promises to be an extremely tough game for Sean Dyche‘s men, but their additional rest could prove huge in ensuring that they are up for the challenge that the Cherries will pose.

As an all-action outfit who love to press high, they will be backed by a home crowd that most recently saw their side come from 3-0 down to win 4-3 against Luton Town.

The Toffees will be hoping to do what their relegation rivals could not, and hold onto a lead on the south coast.

However, the potential for that to happen is largely going to be down to the team selection.

Predicted XI for Everton vs AFC Bournemouth

Although it was many weeks ago, Dyche is expected to make three changes from the side that impressed, but ultimately lost against Manchester United.

Jordan Pickford, though, is unlikely to be one of them.

Despite making his first-ever mistake for England across 60 appearances, drawing scrutiny from Marouane Fellaini, he has been near-faultless for Everton.

He will sit behind a backline only slightly changed, again surely motivated by the international break.

Jarrad Branthwaite was unlucky to get no minutes on his first call-up to the England squad, but he will likely remain buoyed by being involved nevertheless. He will partner James Tarkowski, whilst Vitaliy Mykolenko returns boosted by Ukraine’s qualification for the European Championships this summer.

At right-back, Dyche is expected to receive a huge positive, as Seamus Coleman stunned on his international comeback.

If still fit, which all signs suggest he is, then he must start ahead of the £20m Ben Godfrey.

James Garner and Amadou Onana will remain as the pairing for the midfield, and will sit just behind Abdoulaye Doucoure, hoping to recapture his form.

Returning from injury and pictured back training with the first team, Arnaut Danjuma could come back in for Dwight McNeil, allowing Jack Harrison to retain his spot on the opposite flank.

Although Dyche did admit he was only fresh back with the squad, should he enjoy a successful return to reintegration, squeezing 60 minutes out of him could be beneficial for both his recovery and the team.

A change in dynamic is sorely needed, and hopefully these two can bring it to supply Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has every chance of returning to the starting side too.

The 27-year-old Englishman will surely be afforded chances against an open Bournemouth side, and should he take one it could be the catalyst that kickstarts his season yet again and fires this team to safety.