Everton have chance to finish this season on a high at home

Unlike the last two campaigns, Everton have in the end secured Premier League status with three matches still to go.

So, there is no penultimate or final home game survival drama this time, which we have seen both last season and in the 2021-22 campaign when Frank Lampard was manager.

That means that the Blues can look forward to Saturday's match against Sheffield United (as they could when playing Luton last Friday night) in a relaxed mood. That makes for a welcome change!

Manager Sean Dyche has been speaking to the press today and gave some good news on the injury front with no new significant problems or concerns to report.

Therefore he has a pretty much full squad to pick from, other than the continuing long-term injury to Dele Alli.

While the desire to finish strongly and try and secure as many additional points as possible, there is a chance for Dyche to experiment a bit with his team selection.

Certainly I would like to see a bit of that with players like Youssef Chermiti given another chance perhaps up front.

But I am not sure that the manager will be prepared to do that, at least not from the start of the game anyway.

Saturday also might be the last time that the crowd at the Grand Old Lady will get to see players like Amadou Onana and possibly also Jarrad Branthwaite wearing the famous royal blue shirt.

Let's hope not in Branthwaite's case as I really don't want to see the Toffees lose such a massive defensive talent.

Everton supporters deserve a good, strong performance from the players as those fans have once again stuck with this team through what has been a uniquely difficult and chaotic campaign.

As well as talking about the match with the Blades this weekend, Dyche was also drawn into some comments about the continuing uncertainty surrounding the club's future and ownership issues.

News reports constantly provide more and more fuel for the fire with rumours of impending financial catastrophe coming along almost daily.

However, it cannot be denied that Everton are in a very perilous position and in particular the Toffees desperately need a resolution to the question of who will own the club.

777 Partners are still waiting to find out if their proposed takeover of the Blues will go ahead while controversy over their financial dealings swirl around the group.

This is creating ever-growing doubt about their suitability to get control of the club and pressure is growing in Farhad Moshiri to move on.

Today there are stories that the other US investment group - MSP Sports Capital - who were previously alleged to be interested in a possible takeover.

They have provided loans to the club and might be ready to make a bid to replace 777 Partners and become owners.

Like most Evertonians I am getting fed up with all this and just want it all to be sorted out as soon as possible one way or another, so that Dyche and Kevin Thelwell can got on with trying to strengthen the squad during the summer transfer window.

Well in the meantime, these last two games represent a chance for the players - many of whom might not be at Goodison next season - can enjoy it and hopefully finish the campaign strongly.