Sean Dyche confirms big Everton boost for Fulham as well as Jarrad Branthwaite

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Everton face Fulham this weekend, in a match that could have huge implications for both sides.

For the hosts, they have a chance to pick up back-to-back wins for the first time since April, and extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to five.

Were they to win, they would also draw level with the Cottagers.

Meanwhile, Marco Silva hopes to guide his team as high as sixth with a win, with Fulham having not lost at Goodison Park since 2018.

The recent history of this fixture does not favour the Toffees, but a list of their returning stars will buoy Sean Dyche and the fanbase.

Sean Dyche provides full Everton fitness update vs Fulham

Speaking at his press conference earlier today, the Everton manager kickstarted proceedings with a routine fitness update.

As the journalist rolled through a list of recent absentees, Dyche interjected at the mention of Jesper Lindstrom, confirming his return to fitness after being absent through illness by simply stating ‘Yep [he is fit].’

He then continued: ‘Jimmy Garner, we’re waiting on more news. Just a specialist view on a back injury, so we’re waiting on that.

‘Broja is getting on the edge of coming into training, he’s doing loads of work with the sports science team but not yet. Soft start for him and we’ll see where that goes, but hopeful he can continue because he’s making good progress.

‘Chermiti is making good progress but obviously it’s a very strange injury. The tendon coming off the big toe, very odd injury. But he is beginning to make progress but he’s still a number of weeks away.’

Asked for a timeline on the recently injured Tim Iroegbunam, he then noted: ‘Well we’re looking at weeks because of the type of injury that it is. A bone injury. We’ve just got to wait for it to settle, he’s still in a boot that protects it. Just waiting on that to heal and then get back to it.’

Everton’s official X account then published a further update, focusing on Jarrad Branthwaite among others, which read: ‘Branthwaite (thigh) & Lindstrom (illness) back in contention for this weekend. Patterson successfully completed another full week of training after overcoming his long-term hamstring injury.’

Jesper Lindstrom needs to start proving his worth

Although only a loan signing, and therefore a relatively risk-free one, Lindstrom does have to start proving his worth sooner rather than later.

Especially if he is to convince Everton to make his deal permanent, saving him from his Napoli nightmare which saw him make just two starts in the Serie A last season.

Clearly brimming with talent, chances have been sparse for the Denmark international, who arguably enjoyed his brightest showing in the EFL Cup vs Southampton.

Although they lost on penalties, his runs in behind pierced the opposition backline on numerous occasions. Had he been full of confidence, he could have had a hat trick.

Since then, he has seen his minutes reduced heavily, before illness then struck him down again.

Now back fit and ready to perform, Lindstrom must take an opportunity off the bench to force his way into the starting side, before then taking that chance as well.

After all, one journalist predicted Lindstrom to be the signing of the summer. Thus far, this is far from coming true.