Sean Dyche facing Jarrad Branthwaite conundrum and Dominic Calvert-Lewin Everton question
The extent of the injury suffered by James Tarkowski against Sporting will determine whether any of the defenders who started Everton’s last Premier League game are in the backline for Fulham.
Should Tarkowski be ruled out it would be a devastating blow for Sean Dyche’s preparations for the new season. The Blues boss said after the win over the Lisbon outfit he hoped it was simply a knock. He will be waiting intently on the details of further assessments.
Dyche played a back five in the final day survival-clinching win over Bournemouth in May. Alongside Tarkowski were Yerry Mina and Conor Coady, who have since joined Fiorentina and Leicester City respectively.
Dwight McNeil, who started as left wing back, will miss the start of the season with an ankle ligament injury while James Garner, who played on the right and is currently fit, may well be needed further up the pitch - particularly if Arnaut Danjuma loses his battle to be ready by Saturday.
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Dyche looks set to play four at the back this season and the big selection question has been whether Michael Keane or Jarrad Branthwaite will partner Tarkowski in the middle. They will likely line up alongside each other if the 30-year-old is unavailable, despite Ben Godfrey having started on Saturday. Nathan Patterson has returned to fitness and enjoyed a good pre-season. With Seamus Coleman still out injured, it is difficult to see anyone other than the Scotland international starting at right back. On the left, Ashley Young looks the most likely to start the season as Vitalii Mykolenko continues
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