Sean Dyche makes penalty claim as Everton boss responds to Amadou Onana injury fears

Everton manager Sean Dyche has allayed fears over Amadou Onana potentially facing a prolonged period on the sidelines while claiming that his side should have been awarded a penalty in their 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Onana was left out of the matchday squad with his place being taken by Idrissa Gueye but Dyche insists the injury it is not a major problem for the Belgium international. He said: “Ama’s played with it for the last two games, a niggly calf that’s been annoying. It’s not a drastic one but with the game coming so quick, we had to make a call on it.

“Rather than he played and then came off, we thought it was clearer to start with Gana who I thought was excellent.”

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Vitalii Mykolenko’s deflected seventh minute was cancelled out by an own goal from Ashley Young on 84 minutes but Dyche believed Everton should have been awarded a penalty when Dominic Calvert-Lewin went down under a challenge from Jan Paul van Hecke. Asked if he thought a spot-kick should have been given, the Blues boss said: “Yes, I spoke to the ref briefly, not for any feedback, just to give an opinion. I mentioned I thought there was a foul just outside the box on James Tarkowski which in the modern game is impossible, two hands pushed to the floor.

“Dom’s one, I know because I was a centre-half and he was the wrong side of him. When you’re the wrong side you often do things like when you get your arms around them because you get that moment where you think: ‘He’s in.’

“The ball drops and I think he’s just borderline. It starts outside but he drags him