What The Papers Say - 9 September

The views on this page are taken from the local and national media and do not necessarily reflect the views of Everton.

The Liverpool ECHO reports on the latest team news ahead of Everton’s return to Premier League action.

The Toffees face Aston Villa in a 3pm (BST) kick-off on Saturday at Hill Dickinson Stadium – and former Blue Amadou Onana looks likely to miss out on a return to Merseyside.

Journalist Chris Beesley writes: “[Amadou Onana] is now expected to remain on the sidelines for Unai Emery’s side’s trip to the Mersey waterfront with the Spanish manager reportedly earmarking the Europa League opener at home to Bologna on 25 September for the player’s potential return, alongside Boubacar Kamara, who has also been out since the Crystal Palace's visit with a similar hamstring problem.

“Everton will be hoping for more encouragement over Jarrad Branthwaite as he steps up his recovery from a hamstring injury of his own.

“Also battling to be fit for David Moyes’ men is Vitalii Mykolenko.

“Another former Everton midfielder, Ross Barkley, is sidelined for Villa, along with right-back Andres Garcia.”

Adding to this, Villa could also be without right-back Matty Cash for the trip to Hill Dickinson Stadium, according to the Liverpool World.

Journalist Will Rooney reports: “A player who has very much been in Emery’s plans has been Matty Cash. The full-back has started every game so far and impressed for Poland in their two games.

“He netted the equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands before breaking the deadlock in a 3-1 win over Finland.

"However, Cash had to be replaced at half-time after suffering severe bruising. Poland boss Jan Urban said via Przegląd Sportowy Onet: ‘He suffered a severe bruise from the foul, after which he was assisted by doctors and physiotherapists. It was a typical knee strike to the quadriceps muscle. The longer you run with something like that, the more it starts to harden.’”

Elsewhere The Analyst features an article on Ornella Vignola’s stunning hat-trick for Everton Women in their 4-1 Merseyside derby victory at Anfield.

A historic feat for the debutant, Vignola became the first Men’s or Women’s player to score a hat-trick for Everton in the Merseyside derby for 94 years, replicating Dixie Dean’s feat in 1931.

>>> Click here to secure your tickets for Everton Women’s opening league fixtures at Goodison Park!

Other statistics in The Analyst article include: “Vignola became just the second player in WSL history to score a hat-trick on her competition debut, matching the feat of Kiko Seike in September 2024 for Brighton & Hove Albion against Everton.

“Vignola is the youngest hat-trick scorer for Everton in the WSL, with Toni Duggan (21 years, 318 days), Chloe Kelly (22 years, four days) and Hayley Raso (26 years, 204 days) all older when scoring theirs for the Toffees in the competition. Her treble was also the seventh scored against Liverpool in WSL history, with only Reading and Bristol City (both eight) conceding more.”