Sean Dyche has shared a fresh update on Everton’s current injury situation ahead of the Toffees’ Premier League clash against Crystal Palace on Monday evening.
Everton head into the fixture looking to ease their relegation concerns and close the gap on the Eagles, who currently sit five points better off.
The Toffees are coming off a 2-0 loss to Manchester City, with a late Erling Haaland goal sealing all three points for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Talking ahead of the visit of Roy Hodgson’s side, Dyche has confirmed Ben Godfrey is fit after suffering from an illness, and Seamus Coleman is also in contention.
Furthermore, the former Burnley boss also revealed that Abdoulaye Doucouré could make his first start of the month.
Abdoulaye Doucouré set for first February start against Crystal Palace
Doucoure, 31, hasn’t featured since the goalless draw with Aston Villa on 14 January. The midfielder has suffered from a hamstring issue, which he initially sustained midway through November.
However, the influential midfielder could be set to return on Monday evening.
“They certainly come back into the squad with a chance of getting into the side.
“He’s done very well. If he’s right, and he feels right then he’s certainly in the thinking. We’ve got a couple of days to train before the game, so we will see how that goes.”
It’s no secret that Dyche is a massive fan of the former Watford midfielder.
“I’d always liked him as a player when he was at Watford. I gave him belief, we thrust him back into the side, and he has never really looked back. He’s been a shining light,” Dyche told the Daily Mail in December 2023.
He added: “I want the team to play on the front foot – that energy and commitment to press and take the game higher up the pitch – and he is very good at that.
“He can read the play. It’s not just his energy it is also his awareness, his tactical understanding, the passing lanes he gets to, the lines when he presses to stop the opposition from passing.”
The 31-year-old positively impacts the Toffees’ fortunes, and hopefully, his return will result in Everton’s first win of 2024.
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