Perspective: Sean Dyche Faces Pressure as Everton Receives Injury Boost Ahead of Ipswich Match
Everton Set to Reinstate Four Injured Players After International Break, Urging Sean Dyche to Utilize Enhanced Defensive Options.
Liverpool World reported on October 8 that Jarrad Branthwaite, Vitalii Mykolenko, and Nathan Patterson may all return from their thigh, calf, and hamstring injuries for the match against Ipswich on October 19.
Additionally, Seamus Coleman’s recovery from his calf injury could see him feature at Portman Road for the Toffees’ first match back after the break, giving manager Sean Dyche four new defensive options.
Following Everton’s first clean sheet of the season against Newcastle, Dyche faces pressure to maintain this defensive solidity with a refreshed back four.
Dyche’s Everton could hardly ask for a better matchup post-international break than facing a winless Ipswich side.
However, the pressure will still be palpable at Portman Road.
The Tractor Boys sit just one point and one place below Everton in the standings and recently suffered a heavy defeat to West Ham but managed a commendable 2-2 draw with high-flying Aston Villa in their last home game.
With Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Patterson, and potentially Coleman all poised to return after varying lengths of absence, Dyche must strike the right balance to secure another clean sheet.
Jordan Pickford’s penalty save against Newcastle on October 5 came without these key defenders, and he will be eager to have them back in front of him.
Patterson and Mykolenko could also enhance Everton’s attacking options down the flanks, while Branthwaite’s return raises expectations for Dyche to secure three points from their trip to East Anglia.
