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Post by Everton News. on Aug 19, 2022 11:32:08 GMT
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Post by rugbytoffee on Aug 19, 2022 13:36:15 GMT
Abdoulaye Doucoure will not be available for Saturday's visit of Nottingham Forest, with manager Frank Lampard revealing the midfielder is set to miss around three weeks with a hamstring injury.
The Mali midfielder limped off during the first half of last weekend's clash with Aston Villa and has started his rehabilitation at Finch Farm this week.
Amadou Onana, who stepped off the bench as a late substitute at Villa Park, is in contention to make his first start for the Blues, with Lampard explaining he will give himself "as much time as I possibly can" as the midfielder continues to build his fitness.
Conor Coady, who started the previous match, could also make his home debut.
Allan – described as Lampard as "a really good pro" – is competing for a starting berth after missing a large chunk of pre-season through injury.
The manager also revealed Dominic Calvert-Lewin is "back out on the grass" as he continues his recovery from a knee injury sustained in the week leading into the beginning of the 2022/23 Premier League season.
Yerry Mina (ankle), Ben Godfrey (fractured fibula), André Gomes and Andros Townsend (ACL) all remain sidelined
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Post by Everton News. on Aug 20, 2022 13:14:14 GMT
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Post by Everton News. on Aug 20, 2022 13:14:37 GMT
Everton manager Frank Lampard has made two changes to his side for Saturday’s home match against Nottingham Forest, with Tom Davies and Salomon Rondon coming in for Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dwight McNeil.
McNeil is among the Blues’ substitutes, alongside Club captain Seamus Coleman and summer signing Amadou Onana.
Alex Iwobi will make his 100th Everton appearance in the game.
Jordan Pickford starts in goal, with Lampard sticking with three centre-backs in James Tarkowski, Mason Holgate and Conor Coady.
Nathan Patterson and Vitalii Mykolenko are Everton’s wing-backs, with Iwobi and Davies set to be the Blues’ midfield pairing.
Dynamic attackers Anthony Gordon and Demarai Gray will support central striker Rondon.
Everton starting XI: Pickford, Patterson, Holgate, Tarkowski, Coady, Mykolenko, Iwobi, Davies, Gray, Gordon, Rondon.
Substitutes: Begovic, Keane, Allan, McNeil, Onana, Dele, Coleman, Gbamin, Vinagre.
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Post by Everton News. on Aug 20, 2022 13:20:40 GMT
Programme Notes
There is a chance today to obtain the points that will both provide a springboard for our campaign – and deliver tangible reward for the positive elements of our opening performances.
The unity and intensity that is gripping this stadium enables us to approach every match at Goodison Park believing we can win.
That is a big statement in this Premier League because there is not a team in the division incapable of causing problems for opponents.
But the growing spirit in this squad and club is a major weapon in our armoury.
It is imperative to retain perspective right now. I hate losing and it is typically very tough to remain balanced after a defeat.
There were things to like in our opening two matches, however. We played very well against Chelsea here a fortnight ago and the teams were separated by the smallest possible margin.
Your support again was remarkable. The way you united behind the players at the end of last season will be recorded as a significant episode in our club’s history.
To sustain the ferocity of that backing at the beginning of a new season was just as impressive, in my view. We couldn’t repay you with the result we wanted but the consequence of that noise, passion and desire raining down on the pitch is the players feel a foot taller and move a yard quicker.
I was slightly disappointed we didn’t consistently reach the same levels at Aston Villa – but by no means crestfallen. There was nothing in the match in the opening half, other than one moment in a transition that cost us dearly. We created more chances after half-time and, I thought, looked most likely to score the next goal.
But we paid for another lapse on the transition – this is an element of our game we are working exceptionally hard to improve – and were left chasing the game.
You could see the players’ spirit and determination in the manner of our response. We were a favourable bounce of the ball from gaining a point after trailing 2-0 with five minutes remaining.
That resolve and footballing bravery must be evident across the entire game. Likewise, the thrust and purpose in the final third. We didn’t carry enough threat, initially. I don’t attribute that to playing without a reference point among the front three, not exclusively, anyway. Plenty of teams set up in that fashion and some of those are devastating in their forward play.
It is important we are patient with the players. I appreciate that is a big ask. Believe me, I want Everton consistently winning as much as you. That is how I have been all my career. Equally, this is a huge club with a commensurate level of expectation.
Players are bedding in, adapting to a new environment and learning what we want from them. We are in a process of strengthening the squad and the team will improve. We welcome Steve Cooper and the staff and players of Nottingham Forest.
Putting on my fans’ hat for a moment, I am pleased Forest are back at the highest level of English football. I am slightly too young to remember Nottingham Forest winning European Cups. But as a football-obsessed kid, I watched some excellent Forest teams, full of top individual players, routinely competing for and winning domestic trophies.
I saw from the other side of the fence the rivalry with Derby County and what the club means to its supporters.
Steve did a magnificent job after taking charge last season, culminating in a promotion that seemed impossible when he was appointed. There have been a lot of changes in playing personnel over the summer, so preparing for the specifics of this game was a challenge.
We have, however, worked as hard as ever to ensure we know everything required. But, when all is said and done, from our perspective, the match is about us and what we do. We have been sound defensively, establishing a foundation to build from.
On that note, it was a coup getting Conor Coady into the club. It wasn’t easy for Conor last week going into the team days after joining but we saw straight away his passing range and organisational skills.
He is a perfect fit for a back three, which provides different angles for us to utilise, and he can also operate in a back four.
Amadou Onana hadn’t trained for 10 days and it would have been unrealistic to expect him to get straight up to speed with a full Premier League game. His 10 minutes on the field against Villa nevertheless provided a snippet of the presence and character and ability Amadou will bring to Everton.
The owner, Chairman and Board are right behind everything we are trying to do in the market and I am grateful for their support.
Ultimately, we are all judged by what happens on the field and there is a collective excitement over being back with you at Goodison and aiming for three points to ignite our season.
Enjoy the game,
Frank
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