Everton are hoping to have Michael Keane back for the clash against Brentford on Sunday. Keane missed the Toffees’ 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest due to an unspecified injury.
However, manager David Moyes has mentioned that “there’s a chance” that the centre-back could return to the team this weekend. Charly Alcaraz, who also missed the trip to City Ground along with Keane, however, remains sidelined along with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who suffered a hamstring injury against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last month.
“Michael Keane has got a chance. But I would say the others don’t have a chance,” Moyes said in the pre-match press conference.
Jarrad Branthwaite and Seamus Coleman continue to be in the treatment room with long-term injuries, while Idrissa Gana Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye are on AFCON duty with Senegal.
Owing to the injury crisis at the club, Everton have recalled Harrison Armstrong from his loan spell at Preston North End. Armstrong made a strong impression during his brief spell in Lancashire, scoring a goal and registering three assists in 18 appearances.
The Everton boss admitted that he hopes Armstrong could return to Preston and help the club achieve promotion to the top-flight once the Toffees have more players back. However, that could change if the 18-year-old makes a positive impression with the first team.
“There’s an opportunity if we bring him back and he does well,” said Moyes.
“But the truth is, I want him to go back. I want Preston to get promoted. It’s my old club where I played and managed. They’re in a really good position, pushing for the play-offs and it’s been really good for them. I’ve watched him quite regularly playing for Preston, he’s doing a good job.
“If things allow me, I certainly will send him back because it’s good for his development and education where he’s at, at this present time. But we need him and if he does well, we’ll keep hold of him.”
Reader Comments (12)
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2 Posted 02/01/2026 at 19:08:01
A player does his hamstring, ligaments, scrotal sack. Club says he'll be out for 4 - 6 weeks. The, 3 months down the line, you are asking yourself... "Whatever happened to so and so?"
Oh, and you need to factor in the inevitable setback in training that usually adds another 2 months. Still, when he comes back, it's like a new signing. Isn't it?
3 Posted 02/01/2026 at 19:34:42
It is absolutely incredible when we cast our minds back to Lucas Digne recovering from a broken ankle in only a few weeks.
4 Posted 02/01/2026 at 22:26:53
5 Posted 03/01/2026 at 02:34:46
That sounds like ingratitude, but we have to keep O'Brien and Tarkowski together at the back. Can Keane play right-back?
6 Posted 03/01/2026 at 10:57:24
7 Posted 03/01/2026 at 11:56:30
Has he got a chance to impress and make the Scotland squad for the World Cup?
We've got to be looking for a right-back on loan, free, or just cheap until the end of the season.
8 Posted 03/01/2026 at 13:55:10
Chermeti has just scored 2 for Rangers. The mind boggles😡
9 Posted 03/01/2026 at 14:53:07
I'd fancy myself to score at least 5 goals in that league.
And I'm 66 with 2 arthritic knees.
10 Posted 03/01/2026 at 15:32:35
Everything depends on the extent of the original injury and quite honestly I would prefer Dewsbury-Hall and Branthwaite be kept back until they are 100%.
Everton have decent cover for the time being and it is not worth risking them. Big Jake O'Brien has shown his adeptness at centre-back and the bonus has also been the good form of Michael Keane.
Dewsbury-Hall has been terrific but, with Armstrong coming back and the continuing development of Dibling, not to mention Merlin Rohl, I believe Everton can continue to consolidate their high position in the Premier League Table.
11 Posted 03/01/2026 at 22:13:31
I would assume the new place has undersoil heating? Or are you more concerned for the match-going fans? (Quite rightly.)
12 Posted 04/01/2026 at 06:44:59
I don't think you can grasp to be honest quite how bad the Scottish League is these days.
You only need to see Celtic and Rangers results in Europe, getting pebble-dashed by Hungarian Sunday league sides.
I think even a retired 54-year-old Big Dunc would run close for top scorer up there now.
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1 Posted 02/01/2026 at 17:31:06
It would be nice to get some kind of timescale for when we should expect Dewsbury-Hall, Coleman, Alcaraz etc back from injury... Maybe some details about what Alcaraz's injury actually is.
To be fair, the journalist's don't put enough pressure on Moyes in the press conferences.