Everton have nearly everyone fit for the clash against Bournemouth at home, with Jack Grealish being the only absentee. The loan signing from Manchester City suffered a stress fracture in his foot which is expected to keep him out for the rest of the campaign.
Defender Jarrad Branthwaite and midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall made their long-awaited returns from injury in the last few games while the Toffees also have AFCON-winning Senegalese internationals Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye back in their ranks.
Seamus Coleman, Charly Alcaraz and Tim Iroegbunam are also fit again and the Blues will look to build on their positive momentum after a 2-1 win over Fulham extended their unbeaten run to five league games.
Branthwaite, who played 45 minutes against Leeds before completing the full 90 against Brighton, was rested at Craven Cottage in order to ease him in after a recurring hamstring injury issue kept him out since August. He’s in contention to start on Tuesday, as is Deadline Day loan signing Tyrique George.
Signed from Chelsea, George came on in the 69th minute at Craven Cottage and helped his side turn the game around.
“I think apart from Jack Grealish, I think everybody is fit,” David Moyes said in the pre-match press conference at Finch Farm.
“We're still nursing one or two – obviously, [with] Jarrad Branthwaite, we're trying to just gauge the minutes he can play at the moment because he's coming back from injury... Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Charly Alcaraz as well.
"We've had a bundle of players who've been out injured, but they're all back training, they're all fit. You've seen that with them playing some games and being on the bench."
Asked about his thoughts on George’s debut, Moyes admitted being impressed while also cautioning that the club needs to be careful not to pile too much pressure on the youngster.
"I am [excited about what he can bring]. I've seen bits of him which I like but, again, he's a young player. It's not as if we're getting a Jack Grealish in, someone who's played three or four hundred games and knows how to play in the big occasions,” the Everton boss added.
"He's still a young boy, so we've got to be careful that we don't expect too much from him. He's someone who still needs to get used to the players and the club but what he is showing at the moment, we've been quite impressed by him."
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