Everton will be without all three of their recognised right-backs when they travel to Tottenham next weekend after Ashley Young was sent off in today’s miserable home defeat to Brighton.
Sean Dyche went into the new season with Nathan Patterson and Seamus Coleman ruled out through injury, with auxiliary option James Garner also not fit which meant Young starting on the right side of defence.
The veteran was shown a straight red card for the denial of a goalscoring opportunity, however, with the Toffees 2-0 down to the Seagulls and he will miss the trip to Spurs as a result.
Dyche confirmed after the match that none of Patterson, Coleman or Garner will be fit for next weekend which leaves the manager with just Mason Holgate, who came on late in the game against Brighton shortly before they scored their third goal, or a switch to a back three as options.
Young’s absence has also heightened calls for Kevin Thelwell to source a further full-back option in the transfer market before the deadline at the end of this month.
One player who could be drafted in should Dyche go for three centre-halves is new signing Jake O’Brien who was an unused substitute at Goodison Park today with Michael Keane preferred alongside James Tarkowski.
“The reason why he didn’t start is because Michael Keane’s had a very strong pre-season and he’s a very experienced Premier League player. Jake hasn’t got that experience but he’ll learn quickly,” Dyche explained.
Asked during his post-match conference with the media whether he might dip into the Under-21s squad to temporarily ease the crisis at right-back, Dyche indicated that that would be an unlikely step.
“I think it’s a big ask for the U21s to dive straight in, but we’ll see,” Dyche said.