Everton are back in Premier League action tonight, as they face Crystal Palace under a floodlit Goodison Park.
It is a clash that promises to be a tight and tantalising affair, between two sides seeking to pull away from the relegation zone.
The hosts actually start the day in the bottom three, but will be buoyed by the results of those around them over the weekend. Meanwhile, there remains immense uncertainty over who exactly will be in the away dugout after Roy Hodgson fell ill as they sought to acquire his replacement.
A strange situation which is certain to have unsettled the club, and one Sean Dyche will want to be wary of. After all, he shares great respect with the legendary 76-year-old.
However, it is one of his own ageing stars whom he will want to lean on if he is to claim an important victory tonight.
Who should Sean Dyche start vs Crystal Palace?
With many key players returning from injury, the 52-year-old is at last blessed with a relatively clean bill of health.
That includes the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure and Amadou Onana, both of whom have endured recent spells out of the side. The former in particular has been as big a miss as anyone in recent years.
And yet, there is one man who simply must start today if he is also deemed fully fit: Seamus Coleman.
After all, his leadership and quality at right-back are unparalleled within Dyche’s team, and not only would he retain the solidity that has earned so many plaudits in the last two months, but he would also add the offensive element that Ben Godfrey lacks.
It would mark just his third start of 2024, as if to emphasise the scale of his injury woes.
Seamus Coleman could lead Everton out of the relegation zone
The £55k-a-week legend has emerged at integral moments throughout his Everton career to remind everyone why he is so revered.
His cross-cum-shot against Leeds United last year springs to mind, as the only goal of the game in a key relegation match.
Tonight will be no different, and whilst Godfrey is certainly the superior athlete, he massively lacks the game intelligence and experience of Coleman.
It is no surprise that Dyche has sought to praise him as often as possible, noting after that aforementioned game: ‘A fantastic pro that he is, he gets forward when he can, and with his experience, he makes a good decision. The finish is sublime. The way he struck it looks like a shot, and it’s a sublime finish.
‘There’s no question about his professionalism and what he means to Evertonians.
‘The way he goes about his business, and the way he trains; he’s still got that edge. That’s a big thing for me. You saw it today.’
A run of games with him in the side could be pivotal in finally removing themselves from the relegation battle at last, regardless of the appeal verdict outcome.
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