Davies returns with Onana second-half plan
Joe Thomas: Neal Maupay wasn’t registered in time for today’s game so, for me, that leaves one option: Salomon Rondon up top. Everton don’t have an effective ‘false nine’ and Brentford will bully anyone without physical presence in the forward line, so I’m starting with him. Pickford and the back five are developing into a good, solid unit, so the question is how do you build in front of them?
Options are still limited in central midfield but Tom Davies looks set to return. If he is fit I would go with him and Alex Iwobi, who has been excellent so far this season, and then have the in-form Demarai Gray and starlet Anthony Gordon playing off Rondon.
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On the hour I would be looking to introduce Amadou Onana for his box to box ability and his presence, both of which could be helpful. I would start Onana if match fit, but I think he probably still needs to be gradually introduced at this stage.
One thing I would like to see if he is on the bench, and if the match situation allows, is Premier League minutes for Lewis Warrington. I watched him in the Under-21s last week and he stood out. He then impressed against Fleetwood. So watching him at this level would be a good insight into where he is currently at and whether he could do a job in the first team squad this season.
My team (5-2-3): Pickford; Mykolenko, Tarkowski, Coady, Holgate, Patterson; Iwobi, Davies; Gray, Gordon, Rondon.
Gordon starts with Rondon leading the line
Chris Beesley: Frank Lampard insists that despite all the speculation, Everton and Chelsea are currently miles apart when it comes to any potential deal over Anthony Gordon. So after the Blues' home-grown hero missed Tuesday night's 1-0 Carabao Cup win at Fleetwood Town with a heel injury, he can hopefully come back into the side at Brentford.
If so, Gordon lines up on one flank with Demarai Gray, Everton's scorer against both of their last two matches, on the other with Salomon Rondon between them due to a lack of alternatives at this stage.
It's all change down the other end of the field with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford plus the back three in front of him - James Tarkowski, Mason Holgate and Conor Coady - all recalled after being rested for the trip to the League One outfit while Vitalii Mykolenko also comes back in at left wing-back.
In midfield, Lampard will be hoping that Tom Davies has overcome the groin problem suffered in the pre-match warm-up that forced him out of the midweek fixture has been overcome, otherwise it will mean a first Premier League start for new boy Amadou Onana who is admittedly, despite his huge price tag, still learning the ropes in the English game.
My team (3-4-3): Pickford; Tarkowski, Holgate, Coady; Patterson, Davies, Iwobi, Mykolenko; Gordon, Rondon, Gray.
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