Everton injuries and selection questions ahead of Newcastle United final day clash | OneFootball

Ahead of the big match on Sunday at St James’ Park, I have been taking a look at the Everton injuries, as well as the other selection questions facing David Moyes.

A couple of loan players will be missing, longer-term injured midfielder Orel Mangala and winger Jesper Lindstrom.

When looking at this Everton season though, fair to say that defence has been what it has been all about if talking about their biggest strength.

Only three Premier League clubs have conceded less than the 44 Everton have conceded in the 37 Premier League rounds of matches.

The Toffees have been as good defensively as they have been poor at the other end, only the three relegated teams have scored less than the feeble 41 goals that Everton have managed.

Ahead of Sunday against Newcastle United, it is actually in defence where David Moyes has his biggest selection issues.

At their final match at Goodison Park last weekend, club captain Seamus Coleman led the team out, however, the right-back lasted only 18 minutes before a thigh injury ended his involvement in the win over Southampton and indeed, ended his season.

That injury blow follows last month’s loss of defensive stalwart James Tarkowski, after 109 consecutive Premier League appearances including the first 33 this season, he picked up a hamstring injury and was ruled out for the season

Jake O’Brien had a knee injury that forced him to miss the previous Premier League match but came back in to partner Jarrad Branthwaite against Southampton.

Only for then Branthwaite to limp off with a hamstring issue after 74 minutes of that last ever match at Goodison Park.

Fair to say that Jarrad Branthwaite is by some distance Everton’s biggest asset, the stats speak for themselves.

In the 28 Premier League games he has started this season, Everton have conceded only 28 goals in 28 games and have a record of won 9, drawn 12 and lost 7.

In the 9 Premier League matches when Branthwaite hasn’t started, Everton have conceded 16 goals in 9 games and have won only one of the nine matches, drawing 3 and losing 5.

No official confirmation as yet that he will miss the Newcastle United match, but surely it would be a massive surprise if Jarrad Branthwaite did play any part in the game.

Even if the injury proves not to be serious, the fact is that Everton have absolutely nothing riding on this game.

They are even one of only three clubs (Liverpool at the top and Southampton at the very bottom) that can’t move positions in the Premier League on the final day, Everton are in 12th, seven points off 11th and four points above 13th.

Each position is worth close to £3m but the scousers not even having that to play for.

With these key defensive absentees, especially in centre of defence, you have to think that Everton’s by far biggest strength, looks set to be significantly weaker than most of this season when they travel to Tyneside.

Newcastle United fans are understandably nervous, like all football fans fearing the worst ahead of such a hugely important match.

However, whilst Everton understandably were full on last weekend to try and ensure that they exited Goodison for the last time with a win, it could well be a different story on Sunday.

Any team they do put out will still have to be beaten of course, however, reading some of the media stuff from Merseyside this week, David Moyes may well put a team out against Newcastle United that takes zero chances with any players who have knocks, never mind injuries, plus gives a game to some players who haven’t been first choice regulars this season.

Tim Iroegbunam is an inexperienced 21 year old midfielder who has only made seven Premier League starts so far in his career and only five at Everton since arriving from Villa for around £9m last summer. It sounds as though he could be in line for a rare start.

Whilst 32 year old Michael Keane has only started one PL match since November but looks likely to play in the absence of first choice centre-backs, Keane set to leave on a free this summer.

Ashley Young could be set to be handed a last ever start for Everton having only started one PL game in over four months, he is also set to leave at the end of next month on a free, just days before his 40th birthday.

Everton’s 22 year old attacking midfielder Carlos Alcaraz might also get a start, he has only had six PL starts whilst on loan a Goodison and is set to go back to Brazilian club Flamengo.

Everton are going through a massive change and not just when it comes to moving stadiums. They have a host of players leaving this summer, some the choice of the club and some the choice of the players themselves.

As well as those mentioned above, the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Joao Virginia, Asmir Begovic, Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti will also exit the club after this final match of the season. Which, if any, of his leaving players will David Moyes give sentimental final games to? Will he give younger players who will be still at the club next season a rare opportunity?

Newcastle United have seen a number of their rivals for the remaining Champions League places, benefit from other clubs putting out weakened teams in recent weeks. After winning the Premier League we saw Liverpool do this to a serious degree against Chelsea, whilst both Spurs and Man U have clearly prioritised the Europa League.

Nobody should think that David Moyes and Everton will be simply handing the points over on Sunday BUT I think every reason to think that timing could for once be in favour of Newcastle United. Eddie Howe’s side with everything to play for in this final match of the season, up against a team/squad with nothing left to play for, who have already done their job(s) of avoiding relegation and then leaving Goodison Park in winning form.

I think for sure that whatever team David Moyes picks, Newcastle United are facing Everton at a far more advantageous point of the season than would have been the case very recently. Especially when you factor in that they are all but sure to be missing their two key defenders, as well as club captain Seamus Coleman at the back.

Now Eddie Howe’s side just have to now go out there and do what they have been doing, which is winning their last six home Premier League matches and scoring 20 goals in the process.