Midfield concerns persist for Everton heading into their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace, with three players working to recover from issues sustained during the summer.
Tim Iroegbunam, Christian Norgaard and James Garner are all doubts for the match as they continue their rehabilitation. While David Moyes would prefer a fully available squad, the central midfield department does offer the Blues some security in numbers.
Jarrad Branthwaite and Hayden Hackney provide brighter news, with both appearing to be in good condition after spending the summer methodically progressing their fitness programmes.
Garner underwent surgery on a minor groin problem last month, with the club anticipating a return around the beginning of the campaign. The procedure was described as successful, but having missed pre-season means last term’s player of the year will require time to reach full match sharpness.
Norgaard informed fans at Monday’s Men in Blazers gathering at Hill Dickinson that he too is dealing with an injury, while Iroegbunam picked up a problem during the first half of the friendly against Stuttgart.
Although none of the three setbacks are considered serious, they still present difficulties for the club.
Both Garner and Norgaard would be strong contenders for a place in Moyes’ preferred line-up. Iroegbunam earned increasing faith as last season progressed, though his situation remains unclear, with Hull City citing his injury as the reason negotiations for the 23-year-old have stalled.
The manager does possess alternatives in the middle of the park, with Merlin Rohl and Harrison Armstrong having impressed during pre-season preparations, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who was among the side’s standout performers last term, also being an option.
Hackney, the acquisition from Middlesbrough for £16.5m, offers another possibility following a productive summer in which his physical condition has improved as the club worked carefully to restore his fitness following the injury that ended his previous campaign.
A similar approach has been taken with his close associate Branthwaite, whose recovery from another hamstring problem during his early career has prioritised managing his training load and building greater durability.
Having Branthwaite fully available would represent one of the most significant boosts Moyes could receive this summer, and the defender appears to have emerged from pre-season in encouraging condition.