As the Blues prepare for a trip to Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon, it's time for your Everton FC evening headlines on Saturday, March 4.
'I am spared' - Amadou Onana shares Everton fan theory and makes 'mythical' claim
Amadou Onana believes his performances since joining Everton have helped to “spare” him from criticism during a difficult season so far.
The 21-year-old is one of few success stories of the Blues’ season, cementing his place in the starting line-up and showing he is capable of influencing big games. Two of his best displays have been against Liverpool and Arsenal. The central midfielder has called on the squad to perform better as a group in order to save Everton from relegation, a goal he believes must be achieved. In his latest interview, he also details his ambition to reach the top of the game.
Onana has impressed since his summer move from Lille. The Belgium international was lured to Merseyside with the support of then manager Frank Lampard and made an immediate impact as he was involved in goals at both ends of the pitch in a late cameo at Aston Villa. He was superb in the goalless Goodison Park Merseyside derby and dominated Arsenal’s midfield in the home win over the Gunners last month.
The starlet became a permanent feature of Lampard’s starting XI and has retained his place under Sean Dyche, who set up a conversation between the player and the former Belgian international Steven Defour in an attempt to enhance his development. Onana has established a rapport with Blues too and can regularly be seen whipping up support from the stands during games.
Read the full story HERE.
Everton centre-back battle explained as Sean Dyche makes 'fine lines' admission
“Fine lines” separate Everton’s centre-backs as they battle to win the approval of Sean Dyche during a crucial run-in that will influence the future of the club’s backline.
Blues boss Dyche made his first change to the partnership at the heart of his defence at Arsenal, bringing in Michael Keane for Conor Coady. He explained the decision was prompted by the need for rotation as his squad faced three games in a week.
The manager, who has named five defenders on his bench in recent matchday squads, acknowledged he has a job to “juggle” the players at his disposal. That is set to continue beyond this season and into the summer, with big decisions to come as Everton look to structure their defence for the future.
Keane, who played for Dyche at Burnley, made his first league start of the season at the Emirates on Wednesday night. The decision symbolised the return of the 30-year-old to the first-team picture after a difficult campaign that had seen him on the fringes of the squad - his only previous league minutes having come after Mason Holgate was withdrawn during the second half at Brentford with injury.
Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina had already suffered significant injuries after starting in Frank Lampard’s first XI in the opening game of the season, suggesting Keane may have been as low as his sixth-choice centre-back. Explaining the decision to disrupt the Coady and James Tarkowski partnership, Dyche said it came down to the demands of three games in a week, adding: “We're working with the squad as we find it on a week-by-week basis.”
Read the full story HERE.
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