Sean Dyche has been anything but a ‘tinkerman’ since taking the reins at Everton so on face value his reluctance to chop and change would seemingly make shuffling his pack after an emphatic 5-1 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion seem an unlikely prospect.
With reigning Premier League champions and table toppers Manchester City next up at Goodison Park on Sunday though, the Blues boss’ most obvious dilemma seems to surround whether he can find a place in his starting line-up for Amadou Onana, the club’s biggest signing of last summer.
A stomach bug ahead of the trip to Leicester City ensured the £33.5million man was left on the bench at the King Power Stadium and with James Garner taking his chance to impress during his absence, the former Manchester United player got the nod again at the Amex Stadium.
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Garner’s passing range once more provided Everton’s midfield play with a different dimension against the Seagulls but with Onana replacing Idrissa Gueye – who had been booked in the first half for a challenge on Kaoru Mitoma – in the 86th minute, the Belgian international enjoyed a fruitful cameo by getting himself an assist. The 21-year-old played an inviting through-ball for Dwight McNeil to latch onto and hammer the ball into the roof of the Brighton net for the Blues’ fifth goal.
Whether that vignette is enough to earn Onana a recall remains to be seen but it’s encouraging for Everton to finally have some genuine competition for places. Despite his yellow card, Gueye played well while two-goal Abdoulaye Doucoure surely has his place nailed down.
It looks to be a similar scenario on the wings with McNeil also bagging a brace and while in theory, Dyche could turn to Demarai Gray – who netted a wonder goal in the reverse fixture against Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad on New Year’s Eve – Alex Iwobi’s willingness to provide more cover off the ball makes him likely to retain his berth on the right flank.
Up front, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is yet to score from open play since his return to fitness after almost three months on the sidelines through injury but other than not scoring, he produced a superb all-round centre-forward’s display against Albion so Neal Maupay and Ellis Simms aren’t likely to usurp him. In terms of personnel, defence has been something of a moveable feast in recent weeks but with captain Seamus Coleman injured, Nathan Patterson – who Dyche again praised for his display at Brighton – would seemed primed to get the nod again at right-back ahead of the likes of Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate who both struggled in the role.
Provided he can stay fit, Yerry Mina is also now in pole position to keep his shirt at centre-back having played his first game under the current manager last time out with Conor Coady and Michael Keane both previously having been given a chance alongside James Tarkowski.
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