Sean Dyche has provided an Everton team news update ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has missed the last two matches due to a facial injury suffered in the 3-0 loss to Aston Villa last month.
The striker, injured over the past two years and carefully monitored in pre-season, is ready to return.
Jack Harrison is yet to make his debut since joining Leeds United on loan due to a hip injury. The winger was spotted at a team training session earlier this week, but the game is almost here, son. Dyche, speaking at his pre-match press conference, said:
“Dom is back on the lawn and will definitely be fine. Jack Harrison is currently on the field and feeling very good. Not Jack, he only works with the team on the field. I actually trained with us, literally for a few days. Dom has managed to maintain his fitness and will return to competition.
Jarrad Branthwaite has withdrawn from the England U20 squad due to a minor groin problem, but he is expected to perform well. Lewis Dobbin missed the 2-2 draw with Sheffield United before the international break due to a knock.
Seamus Coleman (knee) is back on the field and is expected to return to action next month. Dele (hip) continues to recover.
Dyche added:
“Take a moment, Seamus a moment. Dobo is back. Jarrad is fine, knocks nothing too major so we are getting strong
Jarrad Branthwaite was spotted training ahead of the Premier League encounter between Everton and Arsenal and appeared in “fine fettle” according to the Liverpool Echo.
Chris Beesley offered a fitness update on several Toffees players in an online article on Thursday (14 September) with Branthwaite among them.
The 21-year-old centre-back played in the 2-2 draw at Sheffield United prior to the international break but did not link up with England’s Under-21 side during the international window due to injury.
However, Beesley wrote:
“Jarrad Branthwaite, who withdrew from the England Under-21 squad with what Everton described as “a minor groin issue” appears to be in fine fettle as he was pictured in the thick of the action, grappling with fellow big man and new signing Beto.”
Good news
Jarrad Branthwaite has only made two appearances this season, one in the 1-0 defeat to Wolves and the other at Bramall Lane where Everton earned their first point of the season and scored their first Premier League goals of the campaign
He was unable to go away on international duty and there would have been concern among supporters that he may be set for a spell on the sidelines
With an already threadbare squad, Sean Dyche and Toffees supporters alike will be fearing any injuries for an extended period of time, and the sight of Branthwaite being competitive in training will be met with a sigh of relief.
Everton are desperate to get the monkey off their back and earn a first win of the campaign. It certainly won’t be easy against an Arsenal side with title ambitions this season, but they won the corresponding match last season in Dyche’s first game in charge. This repetition would be welcome.
In other Everton news, Gabby Agbonlahor had this to say about new Toffees striker Beto.
