Sean Dyche could make three changes to his team when Everton take on Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday.
Everton are looking to build on their budding momentum after finally picking up their first win of the 2024/25 season last weekend.
Sean Dyche’s side have been playing well but suffered some agonising defeats regardless, souring the mood around Goodison Park.
Yet, a hard-fought comeback to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 last week felt like a turning point. It’s now up to the players to ensure it is.
However, that will be far from easy when top-four hopefuls Newcastle United come to Merseyside on Saturday afternoon.
Here is the team Dyche could deploy for the match.
Jarrad Branthwaite shouldn’t be risked, Vitaly Mykolenko out
Only bottom-placed Wolves have conceded more goals than the 15 Everton have shipped so far this season and it’s hardly surprising given the manager has been unable to name a settled back-line.
The absences of Seamus Coleman, Nathan Patterson and Vitaliy Mykolenko forced James Garner to play a game at right-back and Jarrad Branthwaite also missed the start of the season.
But star centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite returned on Saturday and it might not be a coincidence that Everton finally picked up a win with him back. Unfortunately, he has already picked up another knock.
Branthwaite has suffered a quad injury in training and is now a doubt for the game. Even if he is passed fit, he shouldn’t really be risked here when there’s an international break coming to get back to full fitness and some really important matches on the horizon.
Michael Keane should come in alongside James Tarkowski.
In further bad news, reports coming out of Ukraine state that Vitaly Mykolenko has also picked up an injury.
A calf strain is set to keep him out of action for a few weeks, which will likely see Dyche forced to deploy James Garner at right-back with Ashley Young moving to left-back.
Idrissa Gueye to return in midfield
The first change Dyche could make might see Idrissa Gueye return to the starting XI after he came on for the final seven minutes last weekend.
The veteran midfielder missed the draw with Leicester City following the death of his father but is now back in contention. He could take Abdoulaye Doucoure’s spot in midfield to partner Orel Mangala.
Gueye started every other match before his forced absence and he should bring a bit more defensive solidity to the middle of the park.
Jack Harrison to replace Jesper Lindstrom
Jesper Lindstrom has shown flashes of class in his early days as an Everton player but they didn’t come against Palace.
The forward was largely uninvolved in the first half and when he did get on the ball he was wasteful with it, leading to him being hooked at the break.
In contrast, his replacement, Jack Harrison, had an impressive display. He ran hard down the flanks and was a menace in forward areas. The £90,000-a-week man has earned a return to the side.
The rest of the attack should also remain unchanged, with double-goal hero Dwight McNeil obviously starting behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Iliman Ndiaye out on the left.
Predicted Everton team vs Newcastle: Pickford; Garner, Keane, Tarkowski, Young; Gueye, Mangala; Harrison, McNeil, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin.
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