Everton are set to resume their fight for survival in the Premier League after a three-week break as they travel to Vitality Stadium to face AFC Bournemouth on Saturday (30 March).
The Toffees are yet to win a Premier League since the turn of the year, and they find themselves 16th in the league table, only four points above the drop zone.
Everton could face another point deduction in their second hearing for breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, which puts further pressure on the club.
Irrespective of what happens off the pitch, Sean Dyche’s side must focus on picking up wins now. Ahead of the match, the Toffees boss has confirmed that Seamus Coleman, who impressed in the double-header for the Republic of Ireland during the international break, is fit and available for selection.
Dyche has hailed him as an “exceptional” player who is “valuable” to the Everton squad.
Everton team news v Bournemouth
Dyche said: “Seamus is a valuable member of the Club, let alone the squad – what he stands for, he’s been exceptional and he still is.
“To get those games [for the Republic of Ireland] under his belt is very pleasing because the hardest thing when you’re coming out of an injury is to get game time. He’s never out of contention as long as he’s fit, obviously, and he is fit.”
Idrissa Gueye managed 64 minutes in Senegal’s 1-0 home win over Benin on Tuesday. He returned to Finch Farm earlier this week and will take part in full training on Friday.
Amadou Onana also featured for Belgium during the international break. Dyche has suggested that there’s more to come from the dynamic midfielder in the coming weeks.
Arnaut Danjuma has returned to training but the game has come too soon for him. Lewis Dobbin is still with an ankle injury while Dele Alli is continuing his rehab from a long-term groin injury.
Nathan Patterson was very poor for Scotland and he may struggle to get into the starting line-up, as Dyche is likely to continue with Ben Godfrey.
