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Post by Everton News. on Apr 8, 2021 13:21:26 GMT
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Post by jimmy on Apr 9, 2021 14:50:48 GMT
We have to win this game or we might as well forget about Europe.
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Post by Everton News. on Apr 9, 2021 15:51:19 GMT
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Post by Everton News. on Apr 9, 2021 15:56:31 GMT
TEAM NEWS
Carlo Ancelotti says Allan has returned to training and Everton will check if he is ready to feature in Monday's clash at Brighton & Hove Albion ahead of the Blues’ trip to the south coast – but added Jordan Pickford and Andre Gomes will definitely miss the game.
Alex Iwobi will be fit for the match at Amex Stadium, however, having missed Everton’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Easter Monday with a minor knock.
Goalkeeper Pickford, who has been sidelined with an abdominal injury, has started to join in training sessions with his teammates at USM Finch Farm but is not yet ready for a return to competitive action.
Gomes was forced off on the half-hour mark against Palace after sustaining a hamstring problem. Ancelotti says the Portuguese’s injury is not serious, however, and he expects him to be fit to face Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on Friday 16 April.
The Italian added he is hopeful Abdoulaye Doucoure (foot) will be able to make a First-Team return before the end of the season.
Fabian Delph and Bernard, meanwhile, are continuing their individual recovery programmes and will not be available for the Brighton game.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Ancelotti said: "For sure, Andre Gomes, who started to train individually today [Friday], will not be able to play on Monday. He will be able to play in the next game against Tottenham.
"We are checking on Allan. He trained normally this morning. We have to wait and see how it goes and if he will be available.
"Alex Iwobi will be available.
"Jordan Pickford started training this week. He is not 100 per cent and we don’t want to take a risk on in this game.
"Abdoulaye Doucoure had a scan last week. Everything was okay. He is going to have the next scan in three weeks. If it will be okay, then he can start to train.”
James Rodriguez made his first Everton appearance since the Blues’ 2-0 Merseyside derby triumph on 20 February in Monday’s draw with Palace.
The Colombian's precision right-footed drive opened the scoring at Goodison Park, with his goal the standout moment of a classy all-round individual display.
James – who had been out with a calf injury – played for a total of 79 minutes against Palace and Ancelotti explained why he is confident the 29-year-old can further elevate his performances between now and the end of the season.
“James has completely recovered [from his injury],” said Ancelotti. “I think his physical condition is good. There is no doubt about this.
“He is a player who, by playing, it improves his condition. I think we have to take care for him to recover well after games.
“It is difficult to say if he is 100 per cent but he has been good every day in training. He is pushing. He is working well and he is motivated.
“He showed this really well in the game [against Palace], not just because he scored but because he was involved a lot in our play.”
Everton FC
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Post by Everton News. on Apr 9, 2021 15:58:54 GMT
ANCELOTTI TIPS EVERTON DUO TO PROVE QUALITY
Carlo Ancelotti is certain Everton’s gun front pairing of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison will be on song for a game against Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday the manager reckons is critical to his side’s European chances.
Everton paid a heavy price for having only one James Rodriguez goal to show for a succession of openings in Monday’s clash with Crystal Palace, the visitors striking late for a point.
Ancelotti, however, is drawing encouragement from the weight of opportunities created – a consequence of the silky James’ return from six weeks on the sidelines, in the Italian’s opinion – and pointing to his strikers’ goal return as evidence of the bigger picture.
Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison have 31 between them this term.
Both passed up chances to add to that tally before Palace equalised but, insists Ancelotti, can count on a helping hand from James when they bid to come out firing at Brighton.
“We talk about Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin – they are really good in the box, usually they are really clinical and they were this season, scoring a lot of goals,” said Ancelotti.
“In that situation, against Crystal Palace, they were not clinical.
“This is the truth.
"After that, what can I say to them? Nothing, because I am really satisfied with their seasons.
“If the team is able to give them the same chances they had against Crystal Palace, they are going to score.
“This season, when James is fit, we have more possibilities in front, more opportunities, because he has a lot of quality.
“Key passes, final passes, final shot.
“It is absolutely normal.
“We signed him for this reason: to have more opportunities in front.
“He has completely recovered, he is a player who improves his condition by playing.
“His condition is good and he is motivated.
“He showed this in the [Palace] game, not because he scored, but because he was involved in the play.”
Ancelotti, speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, confirmed Andre Gomes will miss the trip to Brighton after the Portuguese hurt his hamstring in the meeting with Palace.
Alex Iwobi is fit to return following a short layoff.
Allan, meanwhile, is pushing for inclusion after rejoining First-Team training today.
Fellow midfielder Jean-Phillippe Gbamin is available after a substitute’s outing this week spelled the end of a long absence.
“Jean-Philippe Gbamin can play because he is training well, [but] he is not used to the intensity of the Premier League,” said Ancelotti.
“We have to take care of this.
“With our medical staff, we have to decide how long he can play.
“He will be a fantastic midfielder, for sure… he has all the quality to be a top midfielder.”
Everton have collected their Premier League points away from home at a rate of more than two per game this season.
That return, insists Ancelotti, “is why we are in the European fight”.
And Everton will aim to strengthen their claims for a top-six finish with a 10th win on the road – and first success at Brighton’s Amex Stadium.
“We have to accept the result [against Palace] and keep the performance, which was much better compared to the past games, then try to win the next games,” said Ancelotti.
“It is a big fight for the European positions and we are there.
“For us, the game is vital to try to reach the target of Europe.
“For Brighton it is the same, to try to avoid relegation.”
The future of Joshua King, whose short-term deal expires at the end of the season, remains up for discussion, said Ancelotti.
King, added the former Real Madrid boss, is training well and only missing out on action because of a switch in formation resulting from midfield injuries.
Looking longer-term, Ancelotti had kind words for Everton’s Academy following the Under-18s' FA Youth Cup victory at Manchester City last week.
He said: “We have a good Academy… a lot of young players are working with us in this moment because some First-Team players are injured.
“We have payers with talent.
“We have a good future from our Academy and I hope soon we will have more [homegrown players in senior squad]… for the future of this club.”
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