Michael Kenrick 12/08/2026 9comments  |  Jump to last
Team News: No Branthwaite, No Norgaard, No Johnson

Everton take on Premier League opposition in Edinburgh this evening as the Blues face Newcastle United at Murrayfield Stadium.

The two teams go head-to-head in the Scottish capital as preparations step up for the Premier League campaign which starts in 10 days time.

Everton head into the game on the back of a 3-1 defeat at Stuttgart, continuing a mixed summer of results for David Moyes’s side, who have won twice in five friendly fixtures.

Newcastle beat Valencia in their most recent pre-season outing, as new head coach Matthias Jaissle prepares to lead a new era. It’s been a summer of upheaval for the Magpies, who have seen Eddie Howe step down as manager, and key figures Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, and Bruno Guimaraes all sold.

Team News

"Jarrad Branthwaite is not part of Everton’s matchday squad for this evening’s pre-season friendly against Newcastle United in Edinburgh as part of his planned reintegration programme following the hamstring injury he sustained towards the end of last season.

"The centre-back captained the Blues and played 80 minutes at Stuttgart on Saturday, having also started in friendlies against Bolton Wanderers and Hamburg this summer.

"Branthwaite will continue full training at Finch Farm tomorrow ahead of being involved in the Blues’ final warm-up match with French side LOSC Lille at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday." — Official statement on Branthwaite's absence.

Other than that, not much of note in the starting line-up — athough Patterson starts at right-back... perhaps a nod to his native Scotland? And Iroegbunam still missing, after he came off very early in Stuttgart. But no Norgaard, no Johnson -- they still need to be integrated into David Moyes's squad and cannot be trusted yet to perform as required. 

Everton: Travers, Patterson, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Hackney, Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Armstrong, George, Barry.

Subs: King, G Pickford, Beto, O'Brien, Dibling, Alcaraz, Röhl, Aznou, Graham, Foster.

 

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Reader Comments (9)

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Jeff Armstrong
1 Posted 12/08/2026 at 16:16:02
David Moyes has excelled himself with that line up.

Tarkowski Keane and Mykolenko enough said.
Ian Wilkins
2 Posted 12/08/2026 at 16:24:05
No Branthwaite at all. No minutes for Norgaard.

It looks a pretty thin squad, doesn't it.
Mihir Ambardekar
3 Posted 12/08/2026 at 16:24:55
The moment we see Tarkowski and Keane in that line-up, we know it's gonna be a long game.

With these two players, we have weak back line. I am dreading Branthwaite's injury will derail our season.
Jack Convery
4 Posted 12/08/2026 at 16:27:54
Jeez.
Michael Kenrick
5 Posted 12/08/2026 at 16:29:23
It does make you wonder just what the point of these pre-season friendlies is when new players are not immediately given a runout so the fans can take a gander at what we've got.

But hey, another £5.99 into the TFG coffers... Maybe Tony's rambles are right: the game's gone.
Luke Welch
6 Posted 12/08/2026 at 16:40:03
Nothing to get too excited about in that line up. A win would be nice, but that will hard work with that back four.
Paul Kossoff
7 Posted 12/08/2026 at 16:42:30
Michael, why the stupid kick off time? I thought the supporters were the Life blood of the game, am I wrong, " He said, sarcastically."🥺
Jeff Armstrong
8 Posted 12/08/2026 at 16:48:06
Michael 5, my thoughts exactly, I think we now know 3 of the back four against Palace, he won’t risk Branthwaite for the first few league games, probably Preston will be his first start, don’t understand the Aznou omission, I mean it’s Hobson’s choice but Aznou offers an attacking threat, start him tonight and show us why you don’t trust him Moyes.
Geoff Lambert
9 Posted 12/08/2026 at 17:00:37
Fukin dinosaur Moyes. If it's broke don't fix it. Same shit as last season. Why not give new guys 30 minutes at the end. But not even on the bench.

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