Seamus Coleman could return for Everton v Crystal Palace after midweek development
Seamus Coleman could return for Everton v Crystal Palace after midweek development
Sean Dyche could welcome Seamus Coleman back to the Everton side for the Premier League clash with Crystal Palace this weekend, according to the Independent.
Writing on their website (8 November), the Irish news outlet report that the full-back completed 66 minutes of action for the Toffees Under-21’s in midweek and is now in contention to return to first-team action.
Coleman hasn’t played for Everton since injuring his knee in May, and Dyche will hold talks with his medical team before making a final decision on his availability for the weekend.
“Coleman has been absent since he suffered a knee injury in a Premier League game away to Leicester City in May, but he upped his recovery with a 45-minute effort for Everton’s U21s against Manchester United on Saturday while he managed to play for 66 minutes in Tuesday’s Football League Trophy win over Mansfield Town,” they wrote.
“He could now be back in the first team next weekend against Crystal Palace, though boss Sean Dyche will discuss that with medical staff before deciding if the captain is ready for first team duty, but his presence has made an impact.”
Everton have coped well with the absence of their captain in recent months, but there is no doubting whatsoever that his return would be a huge boost to the team.
His influence as the captain simply can’t be measured, but also having him back in the squad provides an extra option for the manager to choose from in what has been a bit of a problem area.
Sean Dyche clearly isn’t the biggest fan of Nathan Patterson just yet, and Ashley Young’s form at right-back has been nothing short of unpredictable in recent weeks with a red card, a goal and then an own goal in his last three games.
Coleman brings a stability and great standard to the squad and even if he isn’t on the pitch, him being in and around the squad will raise the standards purely with his presence.
If he isn’t quite right for this game it’s no issue, but it means we can surely look forward to his return after the international break which means we’re stronger for a busy period.
