Sean Dyche has a really tough decision to make ahead of Everton vs Newcastle that he’s avoided all season

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Everton will go into their clash with Newcastle United on Saturday full of hope, despite the respective results these two teams have been earning.

After all, whilst the Toffees have just claimed their first Premier League win of the campaign, the Magpies have only lost once, picking up 11 points from a possible 18 despite not playing their best.

However, it is these consistently poor performances that will convince Sean Dyche that his side has a chance, in front of a Goodison Park crowd that will be hoping for a repeat of this fixture from last campaign.

Their chances of success have been hugely increased by the return of Jarrad Branthwaite, who started in last weekend’s triumph over Crystal Palace.

This weekend though, there will be a whole host of new faces set to provide Dyche with the ultimate selection headache.

Sean Dyche finally has good Everton selection headache

With Branthwaite, his return provided no struggle for Dyche at all. When fit, the defender is the first name on the team sheet.

In midfield, however, they are not blessed with such nailed-on starters, and throughout the season thus far have been forced to play whoever has been fit due to various absentees.

James Garner has been routinely missing this campaign, whilst Orel Mangala arrived at Everton with a fitness issue that instantly needed managing.

Then, as if things could get no worse, Idrissa Gana Gueye sadly lost his father, compounding a tough few weeks for the club.

So, Tim Iroegbunam was thrown in, and the youngster impressed alongside whoever he was put beside. That is, despite having recently dropped to the bench.

Now, Dyche has a really positive selection headache, having watched Mangala and Abdoulaye Doucoure impress as a double pivot thus far.

Should he change this formula which brought about their first win of the league campaign in order to accommodate more traditional players? This will be the first time this season that Dyche has to make this tough decision.

What Everton players will be available vs Newcastle United?

The midfield is not the only area set to receive a boost ahead of Saturday’s 5:30 pm kick-off, with Nathan Patterson having stepped up his recovery by playing just over an hour on Monday for the club’s U21s.

His injury was far more long-term than Branthwaite, hence why it is being managed with more caution, but a spot on the bench could beckon.

Vitaliy Mykolenko finally seems back and stable in the starting side after a bout of illness which also struck both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and James Garner down, but Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti continue to make slow progress in the background.