Everton will continue to miss a host of players heading into the clash against Manchester United at Goodison Park on Saturday but will be bolstered by the return of Abdoulaye Doucoure. The midfielder, who picked up two yellow cards in that feisty Merseyside derby, was suspended for the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace away from home.
New signing Charly Alcaraz, who started in place of Doucoure and grabbed a goal and assist in that match, won’t make it easy for the Malian international to return to the starting XI.
Speaking on the selection conundrum, David Moyes stressed that he is counting on both of them given the injuries that the Toffees are contending with."We've got them both fit at the moment so that gives us a decision to make. We'll look at it and I'll need both of them – we're really short of numbers here,” said Moyes in the pre-match press conference.
"I think I've got nine or 10 players out injured so for us to be getting results with that amount of players out is great credit to the players who are playing at the moment. I don't think we have any additional injuries, and I don't think, at the moment, we have anyone coming back from injury."
Moyes also shared a promising update on Iliman Ndiaye. Currently out with a knee ligament injury, the winger is taking injections to recover from the issue and could return to the field ahead of the recovery timeline discussed.
Meanwhile, Nathan Patterson and Youssef Chermiti, struggling with hamstring and thigh injuries respectively, are back on the grass but still have a long road ahead of them to make it back into the playing XI.
"Ili [Ndiaye] has been taking injections and we're quite positive that he's working hard to get back quickly, so we're hoping we can get him back maybe before than the time we thought – but they're not fit just now.
"Nathan Patterson has come out on the grass the past couple of days but we think it's just too soon for him. He's making some progress. Chermiti is back on the grass as well. He's had two days on the grass. I think just the length of time he's been out for is what we're a little bit more worried about. He's done quite a bit of training but not football training yet, but we've got him back in and around the training group at the moment."
Seamus Coleman, out with a calf problem, might be able to make an appearance before the end of the season, Moyes revealed. "I would absolutely hope so because I'd like that for many reasons. But we always have to do the right thing and play the players who are going to get us the best results. The first thing Seamus has to do is get himself back fit.
"He's a huge member of the dressing room, a huge member of the team – he leads the team brilliantly well here. From a distance, it looks as if he helped carry the Club over a couple of years as well – he's a great spokesman for the team and for the Club. He's really important to me. We brought him here for 60 grand – we probably paid a bit much for him but, apart from that, we're really glad to have him!"
Dwight McNeil (knee), Armando Broja (ankle), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (hamstring), and Orel Mangala (knee) also remain unavailable at the moment.
Reader Comments (17)
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2 Posted 21/02/2025 at 21:25:46
Would be great to see Ndiaye back sooner than later.
3 Posted 21/02/2025 at 21:42:09
But plenty not so long ago were gleefully pointing to the fact that many Hammers fans weren't happy with him and that the West Ham hierarchy opted to let him go.
So has he really changed that much in the short time since West Ham dispensed with his services?
4 Posted 21/02/2025 at 21:54:55
Moyes is not the man to take us into the Champions League. But no-one can do this without massive investment. Moyes is the man to get us back to around 8th - from which we might then kick on (or not as the Hammers have found).
5 Posted 21/02/2025 at 22:08:43
"Moyes is the man to get us back to around 8th "
No road to Damascus conversion then — and I, for one, don't begrudge Moyes that.
6 Posted 21/02/2025 at 22:35:10
But not a good fit if your budget and ambitions are higher than 6th to 8th. But we can worry about that in a couple of years...
7 Posted 22/02/2025 at 00:19:39
8 Posted 22/02/2025 at 07:56:51
I for one will wait and see how we progress over the next year or so. before even considering our next manager. In the meantime, following Everton has brought a smile back to my face again. Long may it last.
9 Posted 22/02/2025 at 08:00:29
I thought he had to be officially returned to Lyon just so we could then sign Charly on loan?
Is this just poor journalism?
10 Posted 22/02/2025 at 08:20:37
While we may rise nice and steadily under Davey’s auspices for the next 29 months our ultimate ‘Mr Right’ is building up some other club?
That’s the potential scenario that bugs me when people say Moyes was the only choice 2 months ago. Davey Moyes does a good job for 30 months but the squad is still 12-18 months further back in its development than it could have been.
It’s not like it’s a nightmare scenario, it would just be a case of missing out on being on the fast-track.
Bit like getting in a decent right back like Walker-Peters because he’s available and reasonable value but that leads to us missing out on the next Roberto Carlos because we’ve settled for a player who’s just good enough for the next phase and aren’t pursuing the really ‘out-there’ options with the required commitment.
11 Posted 22/02/2025 at 08:33:06
12 Posted 22/02/2025 at 08:36:42
13 Posted 22/02/2025 at 09:02:39
Transition, action, park the bus, diags etc…
Stop destroying the English language with gobbledygook.
14 Posted 22/02/2025 at 09:05:10
Scenario A, logic and performance would suggest Moyes at least gets next season and possibly to the end of his contract. In his own words from yesterday, he stabilises us and in one or two seasons, our position, alongside with a state of the art stadium, can attract the type of manager to take us to a level where we are challenging for and in Europe.
But that's logic and this is the unpredictable world of football. Scenario B is that we have a stinker, don't progress and the owners take action sooner.
As you say, let's enjoy it for now and not break out the pitch forks on the back of a couple of bad results, which could happen at anytime.
Lester @, we definitely need reinforcing, but how we manage that is going to be a balance. Not just financially, but I'm always a bit cautious of changing too many at once. Unfamiliarity amongst players, taking time to settle in. It's always a risk, but then, so is doing nothing.
Stepping stone approach to gradually improve. Evolution, not revolution.
15 Posted 22/02/2025 at 09:16:45
After ensuring 11 years of him previously I am still not too keen on suffering another long period of him.
Football and sport in general is about reaching for the stars, ambition, trying to win or at least compete. It's also about failure and resilience. Somewhere in the middle is a pretty boring place to be. Don't get me wrong celebrating survival against Palace is up there with my most euphoric moments of supporting the blues. I just don't want to be stuck in the safe zone under the plucky Everton label with Moyes hailed as a genius for us finishing 10th.
Would anyone swap our last 10 years for Leicester City's.
Colin you didn't like Dyche did you?
16 Posted 22/02/2025 at 09:49:49
Obviously I fully hope that is the case.
He’s done a great job and I’ve gone from absolute despair and dread to unbridled enthusiasm and positivity.
Today, and Brentford on Wednesday, will be tough, I’ll take 4 points now but hope those are earned by a memorable three today.
UTFT
17 Posted 22/02/2025 at 11:28:02
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1 Posted 21/02/2025 at 16:24:55