Dyche's Fitness Update On Branthwaite & Patterson

Sean Dyche says Jarrad Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson's integration back into the full Everton squad following lengthy injury absences must be handled "cleverly" in order to avoid further problems.

Branthwaite and Patterson, who missed pre-season and the beginning of the new campaign with groin and hamstring issues respectively, resumed full training at Finch Farm last week.

But Blues boss Dyche insists it would be counter-productive to rush the duo back into the fold too quickly following significant spells on the sidelines, and rehabilitations that haven't been completely straightforward.

Dyche said: "The challenge we've got with [getting Jarrad Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson back to being available] – more so with Patto, who has had a different kind of injury and a longer-term injury – is that they've been out for 12/13/14/15 weeks, maybe even more in Patto's case, then usually you'd have a six-week break in the off-season, then a five-week pre-season, ideally probably playing two lots of 90 minutes [in that time].

"Fast-tracking players, in my experience, doesn't end well, so we want to fast-track them but cleverly fast-track them – not just push them through games programmes they're not capable of. They need to come into the side when they're fit, properly fit, because you can't deliver performances in the Premier League unless you're properly fit. I've experienced enough to know when you've short-tracked people into the team, they find it very difficult to find their form.

"They literally started with the team last week. They've done background work and support work with the sports science team, fitness work but only two days of actual football training, so they're going to need more than that, that's for sure."

One player vying for a place in Everton's starting line-up for Tuesday night's Carabao Cup third round clash with Southampton is transfer deadline day loan signing Orel Mangala.

The Belgium international, who won his 20th senior cap for his nation during the recent international break, came on as a late substitute against Aston Villa last time out.

"Orel is a new player in a different scenario," said Dyche. "He came on as a late substitute against Villa, having only had a couple of training sessions with us, but he's got an awareness of the Premier League, obviously, and he's an international footballer so we want him to use that experience to our advantage."

Discussing his team selection for the clash with Saints, Dyche added: "There will be changes. We will get players minutes who do need match time back out there. 

"The physical aspect of having three games in a week affects how we work this week, so the approach has to be slightly different to anything hugely physical because of the demand on the players those games will bring, especially because we are down in numbers in certain areas.

"I’ve spoken about it before, with all due respect to the cups because they are important but they're not as important as the Premier League, the Premier League is vital. 

"We are going to have to play certain players, who we maybe wouldn’t have wanted to play in a totally ideal scenario, because they need the minutes and we need them back and challenging for us."