Everton line-ups for Wolves as Jarrad Branthwaite and Tom Cannon decisions made

Chris Beesley – Young can fill gap further forward

Everton have two enforced changes to make for the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers due to the injury absences of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Alex Iwobi but Sean Dyche also has a big call to make at centre-back after the disappointing displays in the 4-0 thrashing at Aston Villa.

If we start with what the pair who the Blues boss confirmed will miss this clash (Calvert-Lewin, who is seeing a specialist over his facial injury) and Iwobi (hamstring), then there are decisions to be made at centre-forward and on the left wing. Neal Maupay led the line in Everton’s previous home game with Fulham but missed a hatful of good chances and remains stuck on just one goal in 32 outings for the club.

Therefore, following his encouraging display off the bench in difficult circumstances last Sunday, I’d pick on-loan Arnaut Danjuma to spearhead the attack ahead of the cavalry hopefully arriving before the transfer window slams shut in the shape of Che Adams, Beto or A.N. Other.

Out wide, Dyche’s options are severely depleted with last season’s top scorer Dwight McNeil already sidelined through injury but while Lewis Dobbin has been decent off the bench, to cover Iwobi’s absence I’d move the vastly more experienced Ashley Young upfield and replace the 38-year-old at left-back with the fit-again Vitalii Mykolenko. This just leaves the dilemma at the heart of the defence with neither Michael Keane nor James Tarkowski covering themselves in glory against Unai Emery’s side.

Tarkowski is the stand-in captain during Seamus Coleman’s absence though and was also the only outfield player to turn out for every minute for his side in the Premier League last term. Therefore, after a couple of individual errors for Villa’s second half goals, it’s Keane who is the fall guy with Jarrad Branthwaite getting his big chance, albeit on the left hand side of the pair with Tarkowski switching to the right.