Everton could be without Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Vitalii Mykolenko for the Premier League clash with Wolves due to injury, according to the Liverpool Echo (17 May).
Calvert-Lewin hobbled off the pitch with a groin problem against Manchester City and didn’t come back out for the second half, with Sean Dyche admitting that he had to overrule the striker about continuing to play
But a report now claims that left-back Mykolenko missed the game through injury, which saw Mason Holgate make his second start under Dyche, and the club is keeping their fingers crossed that he can recover in time to play.
Blow
With Calvert-Lewin picking up yet another muscle injury it seems almost certain that he won’t feature in the run-in now and Everton fans will surely be biting their nails.
The Toffees sit just one point above the drop zone with two games remaining, and should the team be relegated it’s possible that he has played his final game for the club.
But with Mykolenko he has only missed a handful of games through injury since signing for the club and everyone will be hoping he is fit because he is comfortably the club’s best left-back.
With Conor Coady ineligible the defensive options are already lessened for Dyche to choose from, but the options he does have are still more than strong enough to claim a result against a team with nothing to play for this season.
We need a win and to get it we need our best players available. Mykolenko has a chance and it would be a major blow to our chances if both he and Calvert-Lewin weren’t able to play.
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Sean Dyche faces Dominic Calvert-Lewin dilemma at Wolves as Everton braced for a double blow
A look at the changes Sean Dyche could make to Everton’s starting 11 for their trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers
With Everton 3-0 down to Manchester City at Goodison Park last Sunday as Pep Guardiola’s side closed in on retaining their Premier League title, Sean Dyche initiated a major tactical reshuffle but the Blues boss is unlikely to want to repeat the trick when his side go to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
As Everton looked to implement some damage limitation – goal difference could still be a deciding factor in survival stakes – Dyche brought on Conor Coady as a third center-back but he won’t be doing the same at Molineux as the on-loan player is ineligible against his parent club. The Blues are likely to set up with what has been Dyche’s preferred formation since first taking charge on February 1 by going 4-5-1 but there are still a couple of significant dilemmas in terms of personnel for a fixture that could go a long way in shaping whether or not the visitors are able to preserve their top-flight status and avoid what would be a first relegation in 72 years.
Firstly, Everton’s biggest concern will be over whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin is able to spearhead the attack for a sixth consecutive start. Although his only goal since returning to the side at Crystal Palace on April 22 has come from the penalty spot at Leicester City, the Blues center-forward has brought a much clearer focal point to their frontline.
The 26-year-old was withdrawn at half-time against City last time out with Dyche admitting he’d had to make a call over the player’s “tight groin” but Evertonians will be praying their number nine is fit to retain his place in the West Midlands. If he isn’t then the likes of Neal Maupay, Demarai Gray or Ellis Simms could come in to replace him.
In contrast, the Blues will surely be looking to make a change at left-back. Playing out of position in that role, Mason Holgate was handed his second start under Dyche against City but like when he was picked at right-back at Selhurst Park and was sent off for two bookings, the Yorkshireman failed to finish the game.
After another testing afternoon, Holgate was substituted on 56 minutes so Everton must hope Vitalii Mykolenko – who picked up an injury in training on the eve of City’s visit – is fit to return while Ben Godfrey who was also sidelined has experience in the role. Like Holgate, Godfrey’s preferred role is at center-back but even with Coady ineligible, Everton has a surfeit of options there with James Tarkowski and Yerry Mina now the incumbent pair while Michael Keane is out of the side and despite being criticized by Pep Guardiola for what the Manchester City manager described as “unnecessary” behavior, the Colombian, who netted in the reverse fixture against Wolves at Goodison, seems likely to keep his place.
There is also competition for places in central midfield with James Garner having started the last three matches alongside Idrissa Gueye and Abdoulaye Doucoure. After initially dropping to the bench at Leicester City because of a stomach bug, Amadou Onana has been used as a substitute for the past two games but it remains to be seen whether the £33.5million signing can force his way back into the reckoning.
