Everton Receives Fitness Boost as Key Players Return Ahead of Manchester City Showdown
Everton manager David Moyes has received a welcome boost ahead of their challenging Premier League fixture against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Key players Jarrad Branthwaite and Merlin Röhl have both returned to training, offering a significant lift to the squad after the international break.
Branthwaite and Röhl’s return provides Moyes with additional options as they prepare to face the reigning champions. However, the Toffees will be without loanee Jack Grealish, who is ineligible to play against his parent club. Furthermore, young defender Nathan Patterson sustained a knock during the Under-21s’ EFL Trophy match against Bradford City, adding to Moyes’ concerns.
Despite these setbacks, the return of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from suspension is a positive for Everton. Dewsbury-Hall missed the previous match against Crystal Palace due to accumulated bookings, but he is now available to bolster the midfield.
Speaking at Friday’s pre-match press conference, Moyes confirmed the positive news regarding Branthwaite and Röhl, stating, “Jarrad [Branthwaite] is back on the grass, Merlin [Röhl] is back on the grass, unfortunately Patto [Patterson] picked up an injury for the Under-21s in midweek, so we’ve got bits and pieces going on but all the clubs will be the same.”
Moyes also acknowledged the absence of Grealish, saying, “Jack [Grealish] will be a miss for us because he’s played so well but we knew that when we came to play Manchester City, so it’s not expected. We’ll rejig, get ready and get ready to go against Man City.”
In addition to the player updates, Moyes expressed his satisfaction with the contract extensions of Jordan Pickford and James Tarkowski, highlighting their importance to the team. “I’m really pleased. It’s good news we got Jordan and James Tarkowski signed, and Jarrad in the summer as well,” Moyes said. “I think they’ve been three players who have made a big difference to the team, certainly since I came in I think they’ve done a good job.”
Meanwhile, Manchester City will be without Rodri for the clash, while Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Abdukodir Khusanov face late fitness tests.
