Defensive duo out of Barnsley friendly

Lyndon Lloyd , 22 July, 24comments | Jump to most recent

John Stones could be fit to face MK Dons on Tuesday

Phil Jagielka and John Stones will both be absent from Everton's first domestic warm-up game of the summer after they picked up training injuries.

The pair will miss tomorrow's game at Stones's old club Barnsley but the 22-year-old could return against MK Dons on Tuesday; no date has yet been given for the captain's expected recovery.

The rest of the returning internationals will get at least 45 minutes' of action at Oakwell as Ronald Koeman further assesses the squad ahead of the kick-off to 2016-17 in three weeks' time.

Ross Barkley, Ramiro Funes Mori, Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy, Aiden McGeady and Shani Tarashaj returned to Finch Farm on Monday along with Stones but Romelu Lukaku was given extended time off, much of which he has been spending in America with friend Paul Pogba.

“We have the players back from the Euros and they will play 45 minutes and that is good because they need to work," Koeman said on evertontv:

“It is always tough against English teams, we need those kind of friendlies to prepare for the Premier League season.

“For them to play a Premier League team is a nice challenge for them to look forward to. It's not always the result that is the most important thing — what you like to see is the team improving technically and physically.”

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Reader Comments (24)

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Pete Edwards
1 Posted 22/07/2016 at 15:57:44

Cue the conspiracy theorists for Stones being (left) out.

Steavey Buckley
2 Posted 22/07/2016 at 16:03:31

Do Everton have a defence for next season? They conceded 59 Premier League goals last season...

Terence Tyler
3 Posted 22/07/2016 at 16:21:04

Stones pulled?

Liam Reilly
4 Posted 22/07/2016 at 16:28:34

Let the conspiracy theories begin...

Daniel Lawrence
5 Posted 22/07/2016 at 16:29:10

I doubt we'll see Stones in an Everton shirt again. Man City, like 18 of the other teams in the Premier League, want to get players in for pre-season if possible.

By the way, What is Dutch for "We'll go with what we've got"?

Tom Bowers
6 Posted 22/07/2016 at 16:38:12

If it's true then it's amazing?

The pair don't get a kick at the Euros but get injured in training back at Everton???

We have the normal conjecture but it is the Stones saga which may be the important item in this report.

Watch this space!!!

Jay Harris
7 Posted 22/07/2016 at 16:40:14

Maybe Koeman wants to take a look at the Galloway - Holgate pairing again.

Denis Richardson
8 Posted 22/07/2016 at 16:42:13

Bit confused, are the internationals already back or getting back on Monday? If the latter then Stones would not have been available for the game tomorrow anyway (as he would have been getting back to FF on Monday).....so he's not exactly 'out' of the game tomorrow due to anything other than still being on holiday.

Or have I missed something?

Michael Kenrick
10 Posted 22/07/2016 at 16:47:36

Tom (#6), I know some of us love a good conspiracy theory, but I think you'll find Cap'n Jags was not inhabiting Barkley's ample torso while he and Stones were overlooked at the Euros...

Eric Myles
11 Posted 22/07/2016 at 16:48:28

Tom #6 "the pair" weren't at the Euros, Jagielka wasn't picked.

Daniel Lawrence
12 Posted 22/07/2016 at 16:48:41

He's seemingly been on holiday shopping in Manchester according to the press photos this week!

Michael Kenrick
13 Posted 22/07/2016 at 16:52:49

Dennis (#8), I think you're right; we've made a slip there. We reported on Monday that the others had returned... and Big Ron's words suggest they are indeed in training and will play 45 mins. I'll make the correction...

Jay Harris
15 Posted 22/07/2016 at 17:16:56

I thought they were all back last Monday except Lukaku because he went further in the Euros.

Helen Mallon
16 Posted 22/07/2016 at 19:15:10

Who cares they shipped 50-odd goals last season? Get rid and try someone else.

Robin Cannon
17 Posted 22/07/2016 at 19:43:41

Or manage them better rather than just getting rid?

Gaz Jones
18 Posted 22/07/2016 at 21:23:08

45 minutes for Funes Mori, Pennington, Holgate and Galloway... simples!

Doug Harris
19 Posted 22/07/2016 at 21:46:20

Terence (#3)... Pulled!

No not another hamstring!!!

Colin Glassar
20 Posted 22/07/2016 at 22:58:58

Well it looks like John is off to warmer climes in Manchester next week. If Man City offer us 㿞m, and Kompany, I think I'd take that.

James Flynn
21 Posted 22/07/2016 at 23:47:41

£50 million and keep Kompany. When was his last full season?

Colin Metcalfe
22 Posted 22/07/2016 at 23:52:02

Stones and Barkley have only just returned so no surprised to see them benched. As for Stones moving on... well, it's gone very quiet. I think Guardiola will be doing the same as Koeman and assessing what he has inherited and then look to strengthen.

Whatever it takes, we simply have to keep John Stones, he is so important for the future, an awesome player who will become one of the worlds best in years to come. If we sell him, it will be the biggest mistake since selling Rooney!

We can still make shed loads of money by selling Lukaku who, lets be honest, can't trap a bag of cement and has been woeful since March!

Laurie Hartley
23 Posted 22/07/2016 at 00:07:34

Colin, it's only worth keeping Stones if he wants to play for us.

In The Mirror the other day, Mourinho said that he didn't force Mata out of Chelsea – Mata wanted the move. His position was, and is more or less, if the a player wants to go, good luck and good bye – no hard feelings.

Mike Gaynes
24 Posted 23/07/2016 at 00:51:17

Multiple reports out in the last few hours say Chelsea has acceded to Everton's demand that they go over £50M, and the deal could be hammered out in the next week or so.

I say that's more than a fair price, and good luck to the lad.

Martin Mason
25 Posted 23/07/2016 at 00:54:30

We should sell nobody if they can benefit the side and unless we can buy better. It's a massive sellers market but we don't need to sell and there is nothing of value being discussed just now anyway. I'd prefer to miss the transfer window without a signing than pay a vast amount of money for some of the rubbish we're being linked with.

Our future is not what we can buy but what we can develop and Koeman may need until the January window to fully evaluate what he has at the club. I would give him this time especially to see what the current players can do in a well managed environment. We have had a clown in charge for 3 seasons remember.

Laurie Hartley
26 Posted 23/07/2016 at 02:07:00

Martin (#25) – everything you say is perfectly logical and sound but the question still remains: How do you deal with a player that wants away?

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