David Moyes faces significant selection dilemmas as Everton travel to St James' Park on Monday night to face Newcastle United for the second time in five days. The Blues are hoping to welcome back Jarrad Branthwaite, while the manager has a huge call to make over Jack Grealish.
Branthwaite closing in on comeback
Branthwaite, arguably the most valuable member of the Everton squad, collided with Emiliano Martinez in Chelsea's 2-0 win at Hill Dickinson Stadium on October 17. The incident resulted in the Argentinian goalkeeper going to hospital after suffering a fractured jaw.
Moyes revealed he found out the following Monday that Branthwaite had suffered concussion. After the 24-year-old sat out the games against Arsenal and Newcastle United, the Everton manager said: "Jarrad should have recovered from his concussion and also the time scale, which we had to abide by."
Grealish omission explained
Moyes confirmed it was a club decision that he supported to omit Grealish from the squad for the 3-1 Carabao Cup win over the Magpies at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Thursday. He refused to be drawn on whether the 31-year-old, who has returned to the Blues from Manchester City for a second season-long loan spell, would be in contention to play in Tyneside.
Grealish also missed Everton's previous game, a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal last Saturday. In his absence, Tyrique George has produced a couple of promising displays.
Defensive reshuffle options
If Branthwaite returns to the starting line-up, Jake O'Brien could lose his place, with captain James Tarkowski having produced some excellent displays of late in the other centre-back berth. Should that happen, the Republic of Ireland international could earn a potential reprieve by moving over to right-back, as nobody has been entirely convincing in that position.
O'Brien was deployed there for the bulk of Moyes' first 18 months back at the club, but this term it has been occupied by Merlin Rohl, a natural midfielder, and then specialist Ainsley Maitland-Niles. After netting a spectacular last-gasp equaliser against Manchester United on his debut, the transfer deadline day signing from Olympique Lyonnais started the subsequent four matches but has been on the bench for the last two, with the German restored to the side.
James Garner, who netted his first goal of the season to open the scoring against Newcastle United, is another potential alternative at right-back. The manager also has a selection poser in central midfield, with Harrison Armstrong having started every Premier League match so far this term. Moyes started Hayden Hackney against Matthias Jaissle's side, and the former Middlesbrough man broke his duck in a royal blue jersey to double the hosts' advantage on Thursday.
There will also be question marks over Tyler Dibling on the right-wing after a quiet display last time out, with Brennan Johnson pushing to earn a recall.
