Carlo Ancelotti has been handed a huge boost ahead of Everton’s trip to Newcastle United on Sunday, with the Liverpool Echo reporting that several first-team players are nearing contention to make their returns from injuries.
Mason Holgate has been sidelined over the Blues’ opening nine games of the season as a result of a toe injury sustained during the warm-up for their final pre-season match, but the 23-year-old is back training at Finch Farm and could soon make his eagerly-awaited return.
Jarrad Branthwaite has likewise taken to the grass pitches again as he strives to overcome an ankle problem, while midfielder Jean-Phillipe Gbamin could soon join the Everton squad, too.
But with Seamus Coleman still an ongoing doubt due to the hamstring issue that prevented his inclusion in the Southampton loss, news that Jonjoe Kenny may be fit enough to contend for a place in the 18-man squad this weekend will come as a welcome relief for Ancelotti.
Kenny has been ruled out of Everton’s last three Premier League matches due to twisting his ankle in a 4-1 Carabao Cup victory over West Ham United last month, but is hopeful that he has now overcome the issue and can make his first top-flight start since March 2019.
The 23-year-old spent last season on loan in Germany with Bundesliga outfit FC Schalke 04 and proved a regular at the Veltins Arena with 34 appearances across all competitions, leading to vivid praise from then-manager David Wagner.
“It is a very competitive division, with a high standard, a high quality. You have very good facilities and stadiums as well which are more or less always sold out, so you have a great platform [to perform],” he told The i.
“I think it’s one of the best moves a young British player can make in Europe if he is not able to break through in his own team in the Premiership. To go to the Bundesliga, you have to be – and luckily Jonjoe is – very brave, because when you leave your home country and you leave your comfort zone you have to have a very strong character.”
Ancelotti has only trusted Kenny in the Carabao Cup since the right-back’s return to Goodison Park, but noted his belief in the defender last month via quotes by The Boot Room: “Jonjoe is different, he knows the club, he’s a player I have a lot of confidence in.”
The Italian tactician now has the perfect chance to demonstrate his belief in Kenny by fielding the full-back against Newcastle on Sunday, after summer signing Ben Godfrey struggled to contain Nathan Redmond during last weekend’s 2-0 loss to Southampton.
Everton icon Tim Cahill felt Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl set his south coast side up to exploit the £20million Godfrey, too, telling Match of the Day (25/10, 23:09): “He’s a centre-back, amazing defender, but Hasenhuttl, the way he approached this game will think he’s not going to overlap like Seamus Coleman.
“Bertrand’s position was very high, they always found themselves getting out on the right-hand side of Everton. How many times now? Too much space, too much time. Tactically, they soaked up the pressure and they always found themselves hitting Everton on transition.
“Godfrey will learn from this.”
Steve Bruce would be wise to look into exploiting Godfrey if Ancelotti maintains the defender’s place at right-back against Newcastle, with Toon star Allan Saint-Maximin currently averaging 3.6 successful dribbles (72%), 8.6 ground duels won (68%), 1.2 key balls and 0.8 shots from the left-flank per Premier League game this season, per SofaScore.
Kenny, meanwhile, has been dribbled past just 0.3 times per game in the EFL Cup this term, and won 2.2 ground duels, delivered 0.5 accurate crosses (24%), made 2.4 clearances, 1.6 tackles and played 0.5 key balls a game in the Bundesliga last season.
AND in other news, Everton must secure a January loan move for a talented ace in the “mould of Makelele”.