Sean Dyche must not start £20m player for Everton vs Manchester City on Saturday

Everton return to Premier League action tomorrow in the early kick-off, with a trip down the M6 in the offing.

Manchester City marks their opponents, and it will take an almighty task to overcome Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning outfit who seem to have recaptured their rhythm.

With that in mind, and the fact that the Etihad is not really a place the Toffees are used to winning at, perhaps this might mark ample time for some light rotation.

Nothing too dramatic, but in an effort to keep the squad fresh, some stars could take a spot on the bench, whilst injured players continue their comeback trail.

Of all the stars who arguably need a rest, Dwight McNeil does stand out.

What’s the latest on Everton’s injury news?
Having joined Everton under Frank Lampard, the £20m man was hardly the most exciting buy ever, but was widely recognised as an opportunistic and shrewd one as Burnley had just gone down.

He likely could not have foreseen a reunion with Sean Dyche would come so quickly.

Growing into one of the club’s most important players, his seven Premier League goals were integral in avoiding the drop, as he remained their top scorer.

But, perhaps tomorrow marks the perfect time to let him catch his breath, alongside the other stars who are set to be sidelined.

Journalist Joe Thomas relayed Dyche’s injury update from his pre-match press conference: ‘Injury news: Doucoure, Danjuma, Gomes are all out of the trip to Man City. Onana ‘has been out on the grass today’. Young and Coleman improving.’

Should Dwight McNeil start vs Manchester City?
In my opinion, this marks the perfect time to give the 24-year-old a much-earned rest.

The wide man, who has been under immense emotional and physical strain these past few months, has been worked into the ground recently.

Only 13 other attackers in the entire Premier League have played more minutes than the trickster this season, who actually missed the first three games of the season through injury.

Such a relentless schedule is certain to have had a detrimental effect on his physicality, and could explain why he looked so sluggish in the final 15 minutes of last Saturday’s game against Tottenham Hotspur.

It could also provide an excuse for why he is yet to score in his last eight league matches too, perhaps too focused on the gruelling defensive work asked of him by the manager.

Of all the games Everton are to endure this season, there are few more nailed on as a loss than this one. So, with that in mind, perhaps Dyche could look to bring in the fresh legs of Lewis Dobbin in order to rest McNeil for the bigger, more winnable games that are to come.