Sean Dyche confirms major Everton injury boost ahead of Crystal Palace clash and responds to sack claims

Everton boss Sean Dyche has been speaking ahead of his side’s clash with Crystal Palace on Saturday at Goodison Park. Both the Toffees and the Eagles are still searching for their first win of the Premier League season with the former having picked up one point and the latter three.

Everton’s performances, which have seen them concede 14 goals in five games, have seen pressure ramped up on Dyche early in the season, leading to some calls for his sacking. But injuries have also played a big part, with the Toffees’ start defender Jarrad Branthwaite yet to play this season.

But as they prepare to welcome Palace, Everton have welcomed Branthwaite back to contention, with Dyche confirming: “He is definitely in contention, he has done a lot of background work. He is looking stronger and feeling stronger.”

Elsewhere, Everton will be without Youssef Chermiti, Armando Broja, Nathan Patterson, Seamus Coleman and Idrissa Gana Gueye.

With pressure building on Dyche, some tough questions were asked of him during his pre-match press conference, but he did not hide from the criticism, responding: “The bigger picture of the job, I have worked very hard to correct a lot of things, I am certainly pleased with that.” He added: “Fans want to win, ideally they want to win with style… the rest of the job people don’t see, from a management point of view, I have done a very good job.”

There has been talk of Dyche being sacked in the near future as the club continues to await the completion of a takeover. Not only does the current Everton boss face pressure over results, but the new owners may want to go in a different direction regardless of results. There has already been talk of former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri being lined up as a replacement by the prospective new owners, The Friedkin Group.