Everton travel to the south coast to face Bournemouth on Saturday looking to extend their perfect start to the season. The Blues beat Crystal Palace 2-0 at home on the opening weekend of the Premier League campaign before thrashing Preston North End 4-0 in the Carabao Cup at Deepdale on Wednesday.
The return of James Garner in that second-round tie and the impact of substitute Brennan Johnson, who scored his first goal for the club, have given David Moyes plenty to consider for his team selection. The line-up will be announced at 1.45pm.
Joe Thomas's team
The main question for Joe Thomas is whether James Garner, not yet fully fit, or Hayden Hackney, who is “touch and go” after rolling his ankle, starts in midfield. He would otherwise keep the same side from Crystal Palace, though he would like to see Jake O’Brien get a chance at centre-back while understanding that James Tarkowski remains there. He is content for Merlin Rohl to continue at right-back, mainly for consistency.
Thomas is not far off starting Brennan Johnson so that Iliman Ndiaye can move back to the left, but he enjoyed Tyrique George against Palace and wants him to continue building on his good summer, so he keeps him on the left. Thierno Barry certainly starts, so the midfield question remains. If Hackney is fit, Thomas believes his underlying fitness must be better than Garner’s, and he does not want to put the England international under too much pressure as he comes back, so the summer signing from Middlesbrough partners Harrison Armstrong.
Joe Thomas's team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Rohl, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Armstrong, Hackney; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, George; Barry.
Chris Beesley's team
Chris Beesley hopes Jarrad Branthwaite is fit to return at the heart of the defence after being rested for the 4-0 win at Preston as his minutes continue to be managed. With Moyes describing Hayden Hackney as “touch and go” for the game at the Vitality Stadium, Beesley would continue with in-form teenager Harrison Armstrong and the fit-again James Garner in the engine room, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in a more advanced central midfield role.
The big call surrounds who will occupy the two winger positions. Iliman Ndiaye has to start, but the opposite flank leaves three players vying for one role. Despite starting against Championship opponents three days earlier, Tyler Dibling seems to be in the weakest position. Tyrique George has enjoyed a promising pre-season and got the nod against Crystal Palace – with supporters inside Hill Dickinson Stadium voting him as their man-of-the-match – but given the instant impact Brennan Johnson enjoyed at Deepdale, with a goal and an assist, Beesley would be tempted to reward him with a first start.
Chris Beesley's team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Rohl, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Armstrong; Johnson, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Barry.
