Sean Dyche has been discussing the fitness of Amadou Onana, Seamus Coleman, Andre Gomes and Dele before Everton’s game with Manchester United
Sean Dyche fears he’ll be without Amadou Onana for Everton’s game against Manchester United on Sunday but has delivered more positive updates on other members of his squad including club captain Seamus Coleman.
Onana missed Everton’s last home game against Brighton & Hove Albion on November 4 through injury but returned for the trip to Crystal Palace a week later. He was withdrawn at half-time at Selhurst Park with Dyche confirming his calf injury had flared up again.
The 22-year-old then went away on international duty with Belgium but after not being involved in their 1-0 home win over Serbia in a friendly on November 15, he exited the squad through injury before their final European Championship qualifier at home to Azerbaijan four days later. Dyche said: “Ama’s calf, I don’t think it will be right. It’s still sore.
“The other lads, three of them had a game in the week (Everton Under-21s’ 1-0 home win over Athletic Bilbao in the Premier League International Cup on Wednesday) including Lewis Dobbin who is slightly younger but the three older boys, Ben (Godfrey), Keano (Michael Keane) and Seamus (Coleman) all played so that’s good getting them some minutes and Seamus came through no problem. I spoke with him about it, I think when you’ve had a long-term injury, that 90 minutes is sort of the final marker really.
“I certainly think he’ll be around it. He’s been training very well, is a great voice around the place – we know that – so it’s good for them to get as many minutes as possible on top of the lads who have been away of course and got minutes while they’ve been on international football.”
“He needs a bit of time, he needs games obviously but he’s back around it. With Dele, it’s good to see him back on the grass.
“He’s still tentative at the moment on the sports science side of things in regards to not joining up with us but he’s doing a couple of warm-ups and just feeling his way back in. It will be really pleasing if we can get him fit as well and he can get himself fit.”
