Six Everton first-team players have been ruled out of their upcoming FA Cup Fourth Round clash against Brentford through a combination of injuries and ineligibility [Evertonfc.com].
January was a tumultuous month for the Toffees.
There were early-window signings, a managerial sacking and an interim boss as well as three Premier League defeats, before Frank Lampard and two high-profile players – Donny van de Beek and Dele Alli – arrived on deadline day.
Their supporters will be hoping for a much more settled and successful February and the team’s first task is to negotiate a potentially tricky FA Cup tie at home to fellow Premier League outfit Brentford.
However, if they are to make it to the next round, they will have to do it without a number of important players.
Everton understrength for Brentford FA Cup clash
Speaking on Thursday afternoon, Lampard confirmed that four first-team stars are unavailable due to injury.
“Dominic Calvert-Lewin picked up a small knock in the last game [against Aston Villa], so he won’t be available for this weekend,” he said [Evertonfc.com].
“We know Abdoulaye Doucoure is out, as well as Fabian Delph and Tom Davies – they will be out for a slightly longer [than Calvert-Lewin].”
The manager’s two new signings – van de Beek and Alli – are also unavailable as they have already featured in the competition for Man United and Spurs respectively and are therefore cup-tied.
The absences leave Lampard a little light on options in midfield, while the importance of DCL to the team was shown earlier this season during his lengthy absence with toe and quadricep issues.
He’s the Toffees’ main goal threat so there will be more pressure on the likes of Richarlison and Demarai Gray to contribute in the final third.
The players who are fit will surely be giving it everything to impress the new boss, though, and they’ll have the backing of a refreshed home support, many members of which never took to Lampard’s predecessor.
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