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Everton midfielder Delph doubt for Saints game

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Fabian Delph of Everton is tackled by Lucas of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on November 03, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Fabian Delph of Everton is tackled by Lucas of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on November 03, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) /
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More on Southampton v Everton as the Blues make their final preparations for tomorrow’s Premier League game.

Everton have more injury doubts to cope with as well as the longer-term absences of key players Andre Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin.

Although Marco Silva has said he thinks Gomes might return before the end of the season, something that would be very welcome, if a little unlikely.

However returning to tomorrow’s trip, Fabian Delph is now a major doubt for the game at St Mary’s. This is a real blow for the Blues given how thin midfield resources already are.

There just seems to be no end to the bad luck that afflicts Everton. Losing Delph would mean that basically there is only one other senior midfielder available; Morgan Schniederlin.

Given this situation it’s very likely that Schniederlin will now play on Saturday. This doesn’t fill me with a great deal of optimism given how poor he has been previously this season.

But perhaps if he’s partnered with the in-form Davies providing the energy and box-to-box work rate he gives, that combination might work.

Anyway with that in mind I’d now make a change to the team putting Alex Iwobi into midfield and bringing Moise Kean into the attacking three, if Silva plays 4-3-3.

I don’t think that having Schniederlin and Gylfi Sigurdsson in the middle would work. It’s a combination that Marco Silva has tried many times and it just slows down the pace of Everton’s performances.

It’s important that the Toffees play with determination and energy tomorrow, looking to put the Saints under pressure, and not in the kind of deliberate and predictable way that has too often been the case recently.

Southampton are there for the taking having endured a terrible run of home form culminating in that hugely embarrassing 0-9 defeat to Leicester City. Having said that of course, Everton have a dreadful tradition of meekly folding to a team in desperate need of points!

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Away from the game, in other news, there are rumours that Chelsea and France striker Olivier Giroud might be available for transfer in January as he is not featuring for Frank Lampard’s new-look Chelsea side.

Giroud is a player I think he might be worth looking at in January. The Frenchman is a proven goal scorer and has the experience and quality to lead the line if Everton want to persist with a lone centre-forward, short-term. He would also come cheap too.

In addition he could provide some mentoring, help and support to the Blues young strikers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Moise Kean, something I think both would certainly benefit from.

Interestingly Kean also played well last season at Juventus when partnered with Mario Mandzukic and so might thrive alongside Giroud, a similar player.