At least one change to Everton's starting line-up is guaranteed for the trip to Leeds United after the Blues suffered yet more injury woe.
Mason Holgate was forced off with a knee problem just before the 70th minute against Brentford. The severity of the issue was not initially clear after the match but Frank Lampard said the centre back was likely to miss upcoming games.
That makes Holgate the third centre back to be ruled out of action already this season. He had been involved since coming on for Ben Godfrey in the early stages of the season opener against Chelsea.
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Godfrey is out until the break for the World Cup while he recovers from a fractured fibia and Yerry Mina, also injured in the Chelsea match, is due to return in October. Holgate's absence for Leeds United paves the way for either Michael Keane or Seamus Coleman to make their first start of the Premier League season. Keane came on for Holgate at Brentford but Coleman also finished the last campaign playing as a centre back. Coleman has been on the bench in recent weeks after undergoing surgery in the summer.
The rest of the defence is unlikely to change should Lampard persist with five at the back - though one other option could be to start Vitalii Mykolenko on the left of the central three and play Ruben Vinagre at left wing back.
The other big decision for Lampard to make will be whether or not to start with new signing Neal Maupay. Everton have been short of options going forward with Salomon Rondon the only fit first team striker during the injury-enforced absence of Dominic-Calvert-Lewin. Rondon did not start at Brentford as Lampard chose to go with the more mobile Demarai Gray, Dwight McNeil and Anthony Gordon - a decision that paid off with Gordon getting in behind the hosts' defence to give Everton the lead. Maupay will have had just days to settle in at Everton and is likely to be lacking match fitness, but could provide a more clinical edge going forward while allowing Gray and Gordon to play in their more natural positions. Should Maupay start it would likely be in place of Dwight McNeil with the other two attackers both in goalscoring form.
That only leaves the centre of midfield to decide upon. With Alex Iwobi having been Everton's most impressive player so far this season and Amadou Onana having a good game at Brentford, that could well remain the same despite the return to the bench of both Tom Davies and Allan on Saturday after they played no part in the midweek Carabao Cup tie at Fleetwood Town.
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