Seamus Coleman finally returns: Everton predicted XI v Crystal Palace

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Everton are back in action again, as they will hope to carry their fine form into today’s trip to Crystal Palace.

Having played three games in just six days last week, winning two and drawing the other, this is a fine run that feels unprecedented by the Toffees who are so used to struggling.

At last Sean Dyche has added some much-needed solidity to a side that had been so synonymous with weakness and vulnerability, with their Selhurst Park clash, there is a true opportunity to add to their run of just two losses in eight games across all competitions.

However, if the Merseyside outfit are to secure a result, their 52-year-old manager faces a true selection headache to ensure his side retains the balance found in recent weeks.

Here’s our predicted XI for Everton’s game vs Crystal Palace…

Jordan Pickford is unlikely to lose his starting spot, given how important the 29-year-old has become since his 2017 acquisition.

He will hope to keep another clean sheet, having conceded just once in their last three matches.

Much of that defensive form is also owed to the two in front of him, with James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite being a partnership impossible to separate. Vitaliy Mykolenko will flank them, whilst Ashley Young could finally be dropped following the news that emerged mid-week.

Seeing Seamus Coleman managed an impressive 66 minutes for the U21s, it is clear that their £55k-per-week ‘warrior‘, as branded by Frank Lampard, is fit enough for some football.

Perhaps Dyche could seek to squeeze another hour out of him today, shoring up a position that has troubled them of late before taking his pick of Young or Nathan Patterson to see out the rest of the match.

Idrissa Gana Gueye should drop out for Amadou Onana despite his fine performance against Brighton and Hove Albion, given how imperious the Belgian has been beside James Garner in the engine room.

Abdoulaye Doucoure will provide the link between that duo and Dominic Calvert-Lewin up front, whilst Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil seek to offer enough creativity to threaten on the break with their offensive incision.

This front four could certainly trouble Palace’s backline, but it promises to be a dull affair given neither side will likely force the issue going forward.