Everton line-ups for Newcastle as Yerry Mina, Amadou…

Everton line-ups for Newcastle as Yerry Mina, Amadou Onana and Seamus Coleman decisions made

Connor O’Neill - Everton simply need their best players

Unfortunately for Everton and Sean Dyche, they have reached a point in their season where they can no longer afford to wait.

Battling to avoid the drop, it really is a case of now or never for the Blues. And, as a result, Dyche has no option but to gamble.

And that means, even if he prefers to wait and build up the fitness of both Seamus Coleman and Amadou Onana, he quite simply can’t. Everton simply need their best players on the pitch tonight.

Which is why if both Coleman and Onana are deemed fit enough to be involved, then they have to start. As should Abdoulaye Doucoure, who finally returns from suspension.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin should also be tasked with once again leading the line, as the Blues quite simply look a better team with him in it.

Should Coleman not be able to feature, then Nathan Patterson should be given the nod to start at right-back, with James Tarkowski, Michael Keane and Vitalii Mykolenko making up the rest of the back four.

My team (4-5-1): Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Iwobi, Gueye, Onana, Doucoure, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin.

Joe Thomas - Mina is one of the few unused options that could improve this side

I’m working on the basis Amadou Onana is available but Seamus Coleman isn’t, judging by what Sean Dyche has said about both over the past week.

The return of Onana, coupled with the end of Abdoulaye Doucoure’s suspension, gives Dyche the option to revert back to his favoured midfield three. James Garner has looked tidy in his two starts but I’m inclined to go Onana, Doucoure and Idrissa Gueye as we have seen that be effective. At right-back I start Nathan Patterson. Neither Ben Godfrey nor Mason Holgate, suspended after his red card against Crystal Palace, have worked there. If Coleman is injured then now is the time to give Patterson a chance.

At centre-back I’d give Yerry Mina a go alongside James Tarkowski. Michael Keane has done okay and helped keep a clean sheet on Saturday. I just think Mina is one of the few unused options that could improve this side - everything matters at this stage.

Alex Iwobi starts on the right ahead of Demarai Gray because of the protection he can offer Patterson.

My team (4-5-1): Pickford; Patterson, Mina, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Iwobi, Gueye, Onana, Doucoure, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin.

Chris Beesley - Draws need to turn into wins

The hope has to be that the cavalry are returning for Everton just when they need them so Sean Dyche will be trying to get as many as his most-trusted lieutenants back on the pitch when they host Newcastle United.

The Blues' survival prospects could well start to crystallise one way or another over these next two games and the reality of the situation is with so many of their relegation rivals involved in head-to-heads - including their own 'six-pointer' at Leicester City after this one - those recent draws really need to start turning into wins again.

Therefore, it's fingers crossed that Everton can be at full strength tonight with Dominic Calvert-Lewin having returned at Crystal Palace, Abdoulaye Doucoure's suspension ending and in the manager's own words, Amadou Onana and Seamus Coleman both "back on the grass".

My team (4-5-1): Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Iwobi, Gueye, Onana, Doucoure, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin.

READ NEXT:

Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here