Dyche with Everton injury updates ahead of Wolves – Doucoure close, Pickford and Tarkowski miss training, Young still out

With such a quick turnaround between Manchester City and the trip to Wolves, Sean Dyche was back at Finch Farm to prepare his Everton team and to speak to the media. His first comments addressed the loss at Goodison to City.

“It was pleasing for the performance levels. I speak about it endlessly, it’s a season’s work. At Tottenham we played very well. Man City, for all the noise lately, they’re still a top side, top professionals, a tough nut to crack and so it proved. There were a couple of soft moments from our point of view which is unlike us but that can happen.”

The injury situation which has created some issues over the past couple of weeks continues to be a problem for Dyche’s selection process with some improvements and a couple of new issues.

“Bigger picture, we’re stretched at the minute (with injuries) but the people coming in are ready, they’re fantastic in how they look after themselves and the squad mentality stays very strong.”

Specifically, he addressed the continued absence of Abdoulaye Doucoure:

“Doucs, one of those touch-and-go ones, the risk and reward scenarios. He’s a super fit fella, as we know, desperate to play, but we might have to make a judgement call, certainly by tomorrow afternoon.”

“Idrissa has got a calf injury, certainly not [fit] for this weekend. We will see how that improves, but early signs are better than first thought. We will have to wait and see.”

Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

Asked for an update on Ashley Young, Dyche replied:

“He’s still a bit away after having a few weeks, but he’s a super fit fella himself, as you are probably with his age and prowess to play in the Premier League. We are hopeful he will return pretty quick.”

Dyche also revealed that James Tarkowski and Jordan Pickford missed Thursday’s training session at Finch Farm due to having ‘knocks’.

Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images

Dyche continues to see the positives, but he is certainly aware of the chasing pack that has improved their position with recent victories. He also understands that the points deduction is a reality that cannot be an excuse.

“That’s the reality of the 10 points away from a team. If you look at the run compared to where it is, you look at the 10 points, you look now, you take it. They’re certainly going in the right direction again, even after that knock, add injuries and suspensions, then actually it’s a good healthy return.

There’s positives but we can’t stare at the league table all day long. We keep working hard and get rewards, that’s half a seasons work, there’s another half a season which is important.

I think it’s reality. When we had the 10 points taken, where we were then and where we are now there’s been a pretty healthy shift. We don’t know the outcome of what comes next, let’s wait and see, but performance levels are good, the mentality is good. Just get on with it and keep working hard.”

As for the match against Wolves, Dyche was reflective and was clear on what was needed to get a result:

“They’ve varied their play, doing a good job. When Gary came in there was talk of players leaving but he seems to have calmed it. They’ve been a good outfit. Like anything, the strength of the Premier League you have to be on top of performances – we have been.

We approach it the way we have been. The away form was a talking point when I’ve came, we’ve corrected that. The performances, consistency, we’re growing with that and that’s the next step. Taking the game to Wolves, I think we did that, we’ll look to do that again. We have to hope we get bodies back but players coming in are giving good performances.”