The mood at Finch Farm was more positive this week after Everton’s empathic win over Brighton and Hove Albion.
A first victory in weeks lifted spirits and provided renewed belief the club can avoid relegation from the Premier League. Attention now turns to Manchester City - a team chasing the title but with one eye fixed on the Champions League semi-finals either side of the visit to Goodison Park on Sunday.
The depth of the squad means preparation is difficult, with Dyche unsure who Pep Guardiola will select. And he is certainly not prioritising one opposition player, Erling Haaland, he insisted at his pre-Man City press conference. Everton will go into this game as underdogs but can do so taking strength from having earned a point in the reverse fixture in December. After the club released images from training ahead of the game, here is a rundown on some of the key points taken from those photographs.
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Andros Townsend ‘back on the grass’
Andros Townsend returned to training with the Everton first team this week after more than a year out with anterior cruciate ligament damage. The 31-year-old suffered the harrowing injury in the FA Cup defeat at Crystal Palace last season and has since endured a long journey back to fitness. His previous milestone had been his run out for Everton’s Under-21s against Leicester City earlier this month and his return to the first team squad at Finch Farm is another landmark. Sean Dyche has acknowledged Townsend is “early in the process of getting truly fit” but the sight of him back with the senior group is welcome to all at Everton.
Yerry Mina showing no sign of fatigue
Yerry Mina made his first appearance under Dyche when he started at Brighton on Monday. There had been growing clamour from fans for his inclusion with the Colombia international having been overlooked for months despite being fit - and despite Everton’s defensive struggles. One aspect of Dyche’s hesitance to play Mina appeared to be concern over his injury record - the defender having struggled to maintain fitness across several years. The pictures from Finch Farm suggest there has been little sign of trouble or of an adverse reaction for Mina following his first 90 minutes in months.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin still looking sharp
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been integral to Everton’s recent results, his presence offering a significant boost to Dyche and to his setup. The striker was a goalscoring nuisance at Leicester City and played well at Brighton despite not getting onto the scoresheet. He is another player who, like Mina, has struggled to remain match fitness for long periods over recent years but who may have found it just when Everton need it most. He was involved in full training, including sprint sessions, at Finch Farm - inferring his body is coping with the pressure of recent games.
Under-21s continue to train after season conclusion
While first team matchday squad opportunities remain limited, some of Everton’s Under-21s - whose season is now over - are still getting the chance to train with the first team. This week they have included Isaac Price, who is likely to leave the club when his contract expires in the summer, and young centre back Reece Welch.
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