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."
Reader Comments (6)
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2 Posted 10/02/2026 at 09:21:46
Unfortunately, I think Keane and maybe Tarkowski don't cut it anymore and should be benched. Patterson should be reinstated as right-back also.
3 Posted 10/02/2026 at 10:49:54
I know we have the factor of being set more to defend than attack, which can give a bit of a false picture, but nevertheless we have done good.
4 Posted 10/02/2026 at 10:58:45
I put that down to our defensive mindset, our style of unadventurous football. Not many teams have the fear we play with.
Reversed, only two teams in the Top 16 scored less than us this season.
5 Posted 10/02/2026 at 11:18:17
They are now occupying the top 6 places, the only suprise is Villa, the top 2 have a good record in both ends.
6 Posted 10/02/2026 at 11:34:14
With our style of football, even the best forwards would struggle.
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1 Posted 09/02/2026 at 21:30:20
Michael Keane definitely benched, and get O'Brien into a centre-back role. If O'Brien is handled correctly, he'll get quite a few goals -- and God almighty, Beto & Barry need all the help they can get!
I like Patterson, but he does lack a bit of pace -- not sure that'll improve... Coleman is an option. I would like to see Alcaraz used more.
Home form needs to improve. P12 W4 D4 L4. If those draws were victories, we'd be 8 points better off, and be 4th in the table.
Moyes needs to learn to manage for 90 minutes and not just 45. This is why he will never make it as a serious manager, and challenge for the Top 4. Mediocre to poor, at best.