AliousEverton manager Sean Dyche has reassured fans that the club is not facing an injury crisis, explaining that players with minor issues are being cautiously managed during pre-season.
Despite a 2-1 loss to League Two’s Salford City in a friendly match, Dyche remained unconcerned about the result.
Several key players were absent, including James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye, and Vitalii Mykolenko.
Nathan Patterson is still recovering from a hamstring injury, while Jordan Pickford is yet to return after England’s Euro 2024 campaign.
Recent loan signing Jesper Lindstrom from Napoli was also not involved.
Dyche explained that the team had undergone an intensive week of fitness training prior to the Salford game.
He expressed optimism about some players returning for the upcoming match against Coventry City.
Speaking to evertontv, Dyche provided updates on individual players:
- Tarkowski is progressing well
- Gueye and Mykolenko are being handled carefully but improving
- Ndiaye has a minor knock and should rejoin training soon
- Branthwaite is making positive strides in his recovery
Dyche emphasized that these are not serious injuries, but caution is necessary at this stage of pre-season to prevent more significant issues.
He justified the early substitution of first-team players in the Salford game as a precautionary measure, given the intensive training they’ve undergone recently.
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