Bournemouthvs.Everton

McNeil has had a hand in seven of Everton's 20 goals across all competitions this season - scoring on four occasions - and they have only managed one in his absence.

Manager Sean Dyche tried to switch things up in attack, dropping Dominic Calvert-Lewin after 13 games without a goal and handing a full debut to Armando Broja last weekend, but that still failed to have the desired effect, as Everton did not force Nottingham Forest keeper Matz Sels into a save until the final 10 minutes in a 2-0 defeat.

All four of Everton's strikers are now at Dyche's disposal, following the return from injury of Youssef Chermiti, but Beto is being linked with a move back to Italy, after dropping to third choice in the ranks on Merseyside.

It is not just up front where Everton are misfiring though, because Jack Harrison once again came in for heavy criticism from the supporters for an under-par performance which saw him taken off at half time at Goodison last week.

Jesper Lindstrom was brought on and will likely take his place, but he himself is now on a 63-game scoreless run, dating back to his time with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022-23, meaning too much of the burden is placed on Iliman Ndiaye to provide in the final third.

One positive in recent weeks has been Everton's resolute defence, but that fell to pieces against Forest, with Jordan Pickford required to stop the scoreline from getting ugly.

Vitalii Mykolenko took much of the flak from the home crowd, especially after an error which led to the second goal, but as the only left-footed full-back in the squad, he is unlikely to be dropped, despite Ashley Young proving capable of playing there last season.

Young will instead most likely start at right-back despite a positive cameo from the little-seen Nathan Patterson, who was handed some very rare minutes in the closing stages of Sunday's 2-0 defeat, and caught the eye with some forward-thinking movement and dangerous crosses into the area.

Fellow right-back and club captain Seamus Coleman will not feature though, with Dyche ruling the veteran out with the calf injury he sustained late on at Manchester City on Boxing Day.

Elsewhere on the injury list, James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam remain sidelined, but Dyche appeared confident in his press conference on Thursday that the two will return this month.

Everton possible starting lineup:

Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Lindstrom, Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin

Written by

Andrew Delaney