Everton Team News For Forest Clash

Sean Dyche says he’s “hopeful” Iliman Ndiaye’s tightness in his calf will have settled in time for the weekend – after the Blues No.10 was taken off as a precaution during the second half of Thursday’s 1-1 draw at Manchester City.

The Toffees face a quick turnaround ahead of their next contest, as they take on Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park on Sunday (3pm GMT).

Both Ndiaye – the goalscorer at the Etihad Stadium – and Seamus Coleman, who captained Everton to a well-earned point, were substituted late in the second half of the Boxing Day fixture.

Dyche, speaking in his pre-match press conference for Sunday’s game, provided an update on the pair.

“We’ve got to make sure on Ili,” he said. “I took him off in the last game just for a minor tightness in his calf. We’re hopeful that’s settled.

“And Seamus is similar. It was just a precaution, so we’re hopeful that’s settled, as well.”

Dwight McNeil has been out for the Blues with a knee injury since early December, and Dyche says the winger is a “touch-and-go scenario” for Sunday.

“We’ll have to wait and see,” he remarked. “It’s still a touch-and-go scenario with these games coming thick and fast, so it’s a maybe at the moment as to whether Dwight makes it.”

Ashley Young is available for selection again, having served a one-match suspension for picking up five yellow cards so far this campaign.

Following Thursday’s result, Everton have just two defeats in their past 13 games, picking up seven clean sheets across that time.

The Blues’ form is much improved from the beginning of their campaign, when they lost each of their opening four matches. Dyche – although pleased with the strong defensive displays from his side – says the team are “hungry for more.”

“After the first four games of the season, if you’d have asked me if I’d have taken [this recent run of results], then yes, I would’ve to get us back to having a foothold in the division,” explained the Everton manager.

“We’ve done that and now we want more. We’re hungry for more. We want more. We want the players to want more and to continue with some of the basic principles of what we’ve been doing.

“Defensively, we’ve been very strong since the first four games of the season, but now, how many times can we open up enough to win games. And that’s the next challenge.”

Sunday’s opponents Nottingham Forest arrive to Goodison in fine form, having picked up four consecutive wins by beating Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford, Aston Villa and Manchester United and climbing up to third in the Premier League table in the process.

Dyche recognises a tough test awaits for the Blues, and knows his team must continue improving upon their positive recent showings.

“I think, like most, I’ve been impressed by what [Forest] have been doing,” he added. They’re very organised and work to play on the counter and break and defend well.

“They brought to life Woody (Chris Wood), who I know well, and with the goals he’s been scoring, they’ve turned into a very strong outfit.

“We need to make sure we’re delivering. We had a good point at City – similar against Chelsea, similar against Arsenal, and a good win against Wolves.

“But we’ve got to continue with that mentality and build on it. It’s another tough game in the Premier League for us.”