Injury boosts as Everton prepare for Burnley
In a welcome change there has been some timely good indicators on the injury front as Everton ready themselves for a return to Premier League action against Burnley on Monday night.
After the hugely irritating news that captain Seamus Coleman was hurt while away on international duty, Everton boss Rafa Benitez now has some positives at last.
Perhaps most importantly of all defenders Yerry Mina and Ben Godfrey seem to be fit again and having trained this week should be in contention to play against the Clarets.
Both players will be needed on Monday as despite a solid enough performance at Brighton, Micheal Keane has been error-prone so far this season and Mason Holgate might be needed at right-back now given Coleman’s injury.
Of course, Godfrey could also come into the team in that position but despite being mainly right-footed, I think he’s better suited to filling in at left-back (which he showed so well last season) as he is to playing on the left in central defence.
Anyway, in an ideal situation his best position would be to come in against Burnley and play centre-back probably alongside Mina.
The other major injury boost comes in midfield where the almost permanently crocked Jean-Philippe Gbamin has recovered from his latest set-back, what appears to have been a bout of toothache. Seriously is there any form of health mishap that this guy can’t suffer from!
Having Gbamin back will give Benitez another powerful option in central midfield although Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure are likely to continue as his first-choice two.
Gbamin can come in for one or the other and help ensure they don’t get to burned out as they’re playing in a much more dynamic attacking way under the Spaniard. Going forward this would also enable Benitez to play a three in the middle if he wants to.
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This could be another potential tactical switch he could consider in some games perhaps if he wants to ensure more control in midfield, assuming that the Ivorian player can stay fit.
Finally, although Dominic Calvert-Lewin is still aparently struggling a little with the toe problem he has been dealing with recently, he has been training and appears fit enough to play on Monday.
If he can’t start though, perhaps Everton supporters will see their club’s only deadline day signing the former Newcastle United centre-forward Salomon Rondon.
The Venezuela international has re-joined his former manager on Tyneside and seems excitied to be back in English football. Let’s hope he can make a significant contribution to the season.
Obviously, he’s been brought in primarily to suppliment and support Calvert-Lewin and be a substitute as well as come in for him if he’s injured. Well we might get to see Rondon as early as Monday and see what he will be able to offer.