Carlo Ancelotti has given updates on those Everton players who were an injury doubt in the run-up to tomorrow’s Merseyside derby.
Critically, the Everton boss has revealed he has, bar the long-term absentees, a fully fit squad to choose from as all his international players came back healthy.
This is great news and will give the manager the maximum options as he contemplates his team selection ahead of such a big game.
Full-backs Lucas Digne and Seamus Coleman are available as is Yerry Mina so the Toffees will have their full-strength defence, minus of course those other injured defensive players, Mason Holgate, Jarrad Branthwaite and Jonjo Kenny.
The Blues also have their first-choice midfield available as well with Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Andre Gomes also all fit to play.
And despite playing nearly the whole of both Colombia’s World Cup games, Everton’s new attacking superstar James Rodriguez has also come through unscathed.
While Brazilian forward Richarlison, only played a few minutes for his country because of the knocks he picked up and also has returned ready too.
With all this good news it’s tempting to say that perhaps the Toffees injury jinx might have eased, at least for this week anyway. But maybe that’s tempting fate!
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Both Rodriguez and Richarlison as well as Mina had to come back from South America so they might well be a little fatigued by all the travelling they’ve done.
Ancelotti alluded to the possible problem of tiredness in his pre-match press conference, indicating he might make changes in the game to accommodate this.
At any rate Everton have the best possible run-in to tomorrow’s match now with all their players fit and hopefully raring to go.
Thinking about the possible line-up then, Ancelotti will probably start with his usual eleven: Jordan Pickford, Coleman, Digne, Mina and Michael Keane, Allan, Doucoure, Gomes, Rodriguez, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison.
However, if the Blues can get an early lead perhaps even more than one goal, then he might take a few of those players off, possibly Coleman, Allan, or Richarlison and maybe even Rodriguez. For him to be in position to do that, would be a very welcome scenario for all Evertonians.