Dyche confirms DCL has hamstring issue as Everton prepare for Chelsea away

Everton of course have just received a second points deduction for further PSR breaches following November's initial ten-point penalty.

That decision effectively wiped out the three points gained last Saturday when the Blues beat Burnley 1-0 at Goodison Park, their first Premier League victory of 2024.

Dyche and his players have again to try and put all this noise behind them and ensure they can focus on the task in front of them; namely winning football games.

This has however proved to be very difficult and facing Chelsea on Monday night won't make it any easier given the gulf in quality between the sides and the fact that the Toffees haven't won at Stamford Bridge in thirty years.

With that dreadful record in mind Dyche has revealed that several of his key players are carrying minor injuries.

Chief among them is Dominic Calvert-Lewin who scored the winner against the Clarets at the weekend.

The manager sounded confident that he would be able to play at the West Londoners but given Calvert-Lewin's past history with these sorts of tweaks and minor aliments I'm not so sure.

Another possible doubt is Amadou Onana who missed the win on Saturday. But again Dyche seems reasonably comfortable about his chances of returning in four days time.

One player who has been out for a long time is also close to returning to action is on-loan winger Arnaut Danjuma.

The Dutchman has been out of the squad for a long time now but he could be also be available to Dyche on Monday.

Whoever is fit and available when the weekend is over, I think this match has to be seen as a chance to try and build some momentum after the team finally broke their duck this year.

Previously, I have argued that matches such as this were almost like a free hit. However, given the state the campaign is in, every game is now critical.

That is of course even more the case because of the latest points deduction and the incredible possibility that there might even be another investigation before the season is out.