Everton team news for Brighton as Amadou Onana absence explained
Amadou Onana is not in the squad for Everton’s home tie with Brighton and Hove Albion. The midfielder, so impressive across the Blues’ recent run of good form, will not be involved as the club seeks to extend a run of five wins in seven games.
Idrissa Gueye replaces the Belgium international in what looks set to be a three man central midfield with James Garner and Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Ashley Young also returns to the Premier League starting XI after missing the trip to West Ham United through suspension. He did start the Carabao Cup win over Burnley in midweek.
MATCH BLOG: Everton vs Brighton LIVE
Dominic Calvert-Lewin leads the line for Everton as he continues his run of fitness and form. He will be supplied by Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil out wide as Sean Dyche sticks with his favoured 4-5-1 formation, with Doucoure - who has just signed a new contract - supporting Calvert-Lewin from the middle.
Nathan Patterson, who played in Young’s place last Sunday, is on the bench along with Arnaut Danjuma, who started at the expense of Doucoure on Wednesday.
Onana’s absence means Everton are without a central midfielder on the bench and Dyhce later confirmed he will miss the game with a calf problem.
"Amadou, unfortunately, has been playing with a really tight calf and it's just been too much for him after Wednesday," said the manager.
Pickford; Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Young; McNeil, Gueye, Doucoure, Garner, Harrison; Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Lonergan, Virginia, Patterson, Godfrey, Dobbin, Danjuma, Beto, Keane, Chermiti
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