Dominic Calvert-Lewin is once again absent from the Everton squad as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.
The 25-year-old is yet to return for the Blues since playing the first hour in the 1-0 home win over Arsenal in Sean Dyche’s first game in charge. He was back ‘on the grass’ at Finch Farm this week, with pictures released by the club showing him being involved with the first team.
Dyche had said a decision would be made in the coming days over Calvert-Lewin’s involvement against Brentford when he gave his pre-match press conference on Thursday. The striker’s absence will throw doubt on any role he might play at Chelsea next week with the international break that follows that game giving him a further 16 days to prepare for the run-in.
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Elsewhere in the squad, Dyche has persisted with Michael Keane at centre back. Keane was brought in for Conor Coady for the game at Arsenal, Dyche suggesting the decision was due to the management of players in a three-game week. Keane then started at Nottingham Forest and then his inclusion today suggests he has completed a rise from sixth choice to centre back to first choice under the manager who oversaw him at Burnley, his previous club.
The starting XI is unchanged, with Ben Godfrey standing in for Vitalii Mykolenko at left back. Mykolenko missed the last game with illness and remained a doubt for this weekend. He is on the bench. Club captain Seamus Coleman also holds onto his place with Nathan Patterson nearing a return from injury but not yet forcing his way into Dyche’s first team plans. James Garner is also on the bench following his recovery from a long-term back injury.
Starting XI: Pickford; Godfrey, Tarkowski, Keane, Coleman; McNeil, Onana, Gueye, Doucoure, Iwobi; Gray.
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