'There is no crying' - Sean Dyche gives defiant response to Everton injury list before Man City clash

Sean Dyche said he will challenge his players to “take on” Manchester City when the new club world champions visit Goodison Park.

The Blues boss has a thin squad stretched further by injuries and the busy Christmas and New Year fixture schedule. Yet he said there would be no excuses from him going into the game as he continued his efforts to instil confidence in his players.

While he wants his side to believe they can compete with any opponent, he said he could not base his approach around City’s recent poor form in the Premier League.

He explained that, from his experience, Pep Guardiola’s team was often at its most dangerous when playing with a point to prove. Instead, his pre-match plans will focus on Everton.

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Dyche is expected to be without key man Abdoulaye Doucoure and fellow central midfielder Idrissa Gueye is also a doubt after he was withdrawn less than 30 minutes into the 2-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. Gueye’s condition is under assessment but there was clear concern in the aftermath of the trip to north London over the extent of his injury.

Seamus Coleman and Ashley Young may be in contention for a return over the coming days but Dele is not thought to be close to first team action. All three are on an injury list that has undermined a small squad that is now heading into its seventh game in 25 days.

Speaking after the narrow loss at Spurs, in which Dyche believes his players produced one of their best displays under him as they came close to grabbing at least a point from north London, the Blues boss countered the