Preview: Everton v BournemouthForm, team news and more ahead of Cherries clash.TEAM NEWSRonald Koeman – who will bring up 100 Premier League games as a manager – admits he has a welcome selection headache in midfield as Idrissa Gana Gueye is once again available.
The Senegal man was away with the Lions of Teranga at the recent Africa Cup of Nations and, having missed the trip to Stoke City on Wednesday, is back in contention.
However, he has a fight on his hands to reclaim his place in the starting line-up. “We’ve had some new faces in the team [since] and everyone knows at the moment we have five very good midfielders in that position,” said Koeman.
“It’s always a big, tough decision for a manager but I like to have it. Now I can look at the details at what we need for a particular game and put the best midfield on the pitch.”
Mo Besic and Yannick Bolasie remain absent, but Koeman revealed Dominic Calvert-Lewin is weeks away from a return to training following an ankle injury.
For Bournemouth, Callum Wilson has been ruled out for the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury suffered in training. Their only other doubt is left-back Charlie Daniels, who has a hamstring problem.
However, Max Gradel is back at the Cherries following his exploits with the Ivory Coast at the Cup of Nations.
FORMEverton will look to extend their recent run of six Premier League games unbeaten when Bournemouth visit.
In that sequence the Toffees have won four and kept four clean sheets, and return to Goodison Park after picking up a point at Stoke City on Wednesday night.
The Cherries, meanwhile, head for Merseyside looking to snap out of a tough run of form that has seen them win one of their last seven league games and left them without a win in any competition in 2017.
Eddie Howe’s men lost 2-0 to Crystal Palace at the Vitality Stadium in their midweek outing.
KEY MAN – Benik Afobe
With talismanic striker Wilson ruled out for the rest of the campaign, the burden of scoring the goals passes on to fellow frontman Afobe.
However, he is no stranger to being amongst the goals – the Cherries parted with a cool £10million – a club record – after netted 23 times in 48 games for Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2015.
Initially finding it tough to break into the Bournemouth line-up, Afobe bagged four goals in 15 appearances in his debut season.
Of late he has round regular football easier to come by and he even sacrificed a place in DR Congo’s AFCON squad to ensure he kept his place in the Cherries’ line-up.
Three goals in his last eight appearances suggest he is up to the task of leading the line in Wilson’s enforced absence.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE – Mike Jones
Saturday sees referee Jones take charge of his 20th game of the campaign, and third involving Everton.
He previously oversaw the Blues’ 3-0 win at Sunderland, and the 2-1 defeat at Burnley.
To date, he has flashed 70 yellow cards and three reds so far this season.
Jones will be assisted by Andy Garratt and Mark Scholes on Merseyside, with Steve Martin acting as the contest's fourth official.
Everton FC