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Post by Everton News. on May 12, 2023 21:22:51 GMT
TEAM NEWS
Sean Dyche has no fresh injury concerns ahead of Everton's clash with Manchester City at Goodison Park on Sunday (2pm BST kick-off).
The Blues manager confirmed captain Seamus Coleman has undergone surgery on a knee injury sustained against Leicester City on 1 May, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Yerry Mina have both trained well.
Asked in his pre-match press conference whether showing patience with both Calvert-Lewin and Mina is now paying dividends, Dyche said: "Patience, bearing in mind it's not patience in terms of holding them back for the sake of it, it's been patience in the sense of the risk-versus-reward scenarios that come with football.
"It's difficult sometimes. You're very tempted sometimes as a manager to push players back in too early but, in my experience, it doesn't very often pay you back. So we were trying to get players - more so with Dom because of his recent history - to get them to a point when they're as close to match fit as they possibly can be before you drop him back into full training. Whereas, often, you'd use full training to get the final bit of fitness.
"I think because of Dom's history, I thought it needed solving - properly solving. We were unfortunate the first time around because we were just at the cusp of being fully fit and he nicked his hamstring again, then you have to be extra careful. That was the challenge but we still used the same process.
"I think we've seen from his performances that he does look very fit and strong, so that's going to be important over the coming games, of course. It's a real risk-versus-reward scenario, especially with muscle injuries, which I think is always a trickier scenario.
"Yerry has been fit since we got here. It's just [been a case of] giving him proper fitness. I thought he did well the other night fitness-wise. It's not easy at the minute because the games programme is very skinny. We've managed to a couple of games in between since I've been here but not many. He did well with that side of things and then give him a bit of down time to recover."
There was also positive news in the form of Andros Townsend - who played 45 minutes for the Under-21s last weekend - completing his first group training session since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in March last year.
"He's just started with us again," Dyche said about Townsend. "He's early on in the process of getting truly fit but he's started with us again and it's great for him because it's been a long haul.
"I spoke to him about his frustrations with it all and it can get hard when you're a player but he's back on the grass and enjoying it again - and we want that to continue."
Pep Guardiola's City side head to Goodison chasing a third consecutive Premier League title, with a Champions League semi-final second leg with Real Madrid and FA Cup final against local rivals Manchester United also on the horizon.
Everton, meanwhile, head back to home soil looking to follow up a superb 5-1 away victory over Brighton & Hove Albion last time out.
On skipper Coleman, Dyche added: "He did have an operation. It was straightforward in the view of the medical side of things. Apparently it's gone really well, when they got in there [it was] as they expected so hopefully it'll be a straightforward recovery. All being well he should be fit for next season.
"I'll be speaking to him ongoing. I have with all the players who have needed a chat about things. He's well in the loop of where he sits at this football club."
Everton FC
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Post by Everton News. on May 12, 2023 21:23:34 GMT
Sean Dyche has called on his players to approach Sunday’s clash against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City with a positive mindset - urging them to remember how much of a “good group” they are.
The Blues have illustrated their quality in abundance across their last two Premier League outings, following up a hard-fought 2-2 draw at Leicester City with a thrilling 5-1 success at Brighton.
That victory on the south coast saw Everton climb out of the bottom three and two points clear of the relegation zone, and now Everton will chase what could be a decisive victory in their survival mission against Manchester City at Goodison Park on Sunday (2pm kick-off BST).
However, bettering Pep Guardiola’s side is set to be a tough assignment. Although they come into the game in the middle of a tense Champions League two-legged tie with Real Madrid, they’re flying high having won each of their past 10 Premier League matches and look on course to land a fifth league crown in six years.
Dyche, though, has called on his players to embrace the feel-good factor from their two most recent impressive performances and approach the challenge with a positive attitude.
Speaking in Friday’s press conference held at Finch Farm, Dyche said: “It’s not easy, they’re a top side performing fantastically well this season in a number of different competitions.
"I know they’ve got very good players, they’ve got a squad full of them, [Guardiola] might change things, rotate players. We can’t look at everything they do; we need to focus on what we do.
“We’ve focused on that a lot since I’ve been here, some good signs, some not, but overall, there has been an adjustment in the mentality. It’s important to remind ourselves of the good players and good group we’ve got here.”
“They’re a very good side, you’ve got to find a way of competing and if you do that properly and you play well then you’ve got a chance to win.
“The rules stay the same whoever it is you’re playing against, it’s just you’ve got to get all the details right against the top sides, particularly because Man City will work on you if you don’t get the details right."
While City represent a tough competitor, the Toffees will be buoyed by a return to Goodison Park after a pair of tricky trips on the road.
Although looking forward to a return to the Grand Old Lady, Dyche was also keen to praise the unwavering support from Evertonians on the back of the great support 3,000 of them gave the team at the Amex on Monday evening.
“During this process, our fans have been amazing,” said Dyche. “I have never questioned the fans they’ve been amazing since I got here. Home and away.
“I always have an extra little bit of respect for away fans purely because it costs a lot of money, travelling, tickets and all the rest of it. Sorting your life out.
“So, I always think that’s an added respect level because it costs a lot of money for these people and a lot of effort to get places, especially places like Brighton because it’s miles away. So, they got a reward for a very good performance.
“We thank them for their backing.”
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Post by Avinalaff on May 13, 2023 8:15:37 GMT
If we can get a draw it will be huge. If we don't win at least 4-0 after last week we should be ashamed.  |
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Post by halewoodblue on May 13, 2023 9:12:36 GMT
Can't see anything but a defeat. Hopefully we can be competitive and carry on momentum to next week's vital game
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Post by rugbytoffee on May 13, 2023 9:21:29 GMT
Same intensity shown against Leicester with the counter attacking potency shown against Brighton and we may get a positive result.
But I think the focus should be on the 2 final games.
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