With the Premier League returning this weekend and Everton preparing to entertain Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on Saturday, there is an update on the Blues injured stars.
This is an important bit of news for Everton fans who for a pleasant change are anticipating a derby game from a position of strength, with their team sitting top of the table and looking down on their neighbours!
But despite a spectacular opening to the season, better than I think any Blues fans would have dared hope for, there has been a growing problem with injuries to key players that might potentially take the gloss of this great start.
After losing two central defenders in Mason Holgate and Jarrad Branthwaite early on, in the last few weeks the Toffees then also saw Allan, Richarlison and Andre Gomes get hurt.
And then again in quick succession, both Jonjo Kenny and Seamus Coleman also picked up injuries leaving Everton potentially without any full-backs on the right side of the defence.
After this catalogue of mishaps, it looked like the traditional Everton curse was back with a vengeance to try and undermine this season as well.
While both defenders are out long-term, Allan’s injury looked the worse of the most recent ones and there were legitimate worries before the international break that he wouldn’t be fit again in time for the derby.
While Coleman’s problem, the latest, also didn’t look very good when he was forced to leave the pitch early on in the 4-2 victory over Brighton.
Well, in some welcome good news, it seems that both Brazilians Allan and Richarlison should be ready to face the Reds on Saturday, which will be a massive relief for all Evertonians.
Although both are obviously critical to the way Everton have been playing, perhaps Richarlison’s absence would have been the most serious.
The Blues might just have been able to cope without Allan, if perhaps Tom Davies or Fabian Delph had come into his position and played as well as they did against Brighton, but there’s no one who could replace the pace, power and dynamism of the Brazil forward.
As for Portugal midfielder Gomes, he should also be available for selection on Saturday. His injury also wasn’t too serious but enough to keep him out of the Brighton game.
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The one doubt for Saturday’s big match, is Coleman. According to the Echo, the Irishman is more than likely to be out for the derby, as he has a pulled hamstring, which is a more serious problem than the others have had.
That’s not good news at all. Coleman has been in outstanding form since the start of the campaign and losing him would be a massive blow, especially with Kenny also out.
So with no recognised right-backs, (even Holgate could have filled in there had he been fit), that would mean that Davies would probably have to deputise against Liverpool. And that is not a prospect that would fill many Blues fans with a great deal of confidence going into such an important match.
If Sadio Mane is able to face the Toffees after being in isolation with Covid, then Davies will be facing a very severe test of his defensive qualities in an unfamiliar position. Hardly an ideal situation with Everton hoping to put down a marker for the rest of the season with a first win over their rivals in ten years.