Everton sweat on fitness of £33m star ahead of Newcastle United clash but Toffees are handed major boost

Everton are sweating on the fitness of a key midfielder ahead of Thursday night’s meeting with in-form Newcastle United.

The Toffees currently sit in the Premier League relegation zone after a ten-point deduction was imposed upon them for failing to meet the Premier League’s profit and sustainability requirements - but will hope to claim a second consecutive win after they collected all three points from Saturday’s visit to Nottingham Forest.

Their cause is set to be boosted by the return of England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin after he missed the win at the City Ground with what was described as a ‘minor calf issue’.  However, a late call will be made on the availability of £33m midfielder Amadou Onana after he returned to training earlier this week.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the Toffess boss said: “Dom is showing good signs today of being right, so he will come back into the thinking.

“Amadou is only just back on the grass so it's touch-and-go with our decision around him.  André (Gomes) has had a very frustrating season so far but he got a run out last week of 60-odd minutes, which is good.  There is a bit more to come from him, I think, to be fully fit.”

One area where Dyche can boast some strength is at full-back after Seamus Coleman returned to contention in recent weeks.  The Republic of Ireland international has been an unused substitute in the home defeat against Manchester United and Saturday’s narrow win at Forest - and that has left his manager with some big calls to make ahead of the meeting with the Magpies.

Dyche explained: ”I’ve spoken clearly recently about the different style of full-backs we've got and the mixture we've got. Mykolenko is developing all of the time and getting stronger; Young with his age is similar but also a bit different to Seamus; then obviously Patterson maturing as a player. 

"There is a good feel about the full-back areas. We wanted that balance and I think we've got that balance - and the demand, which I think is important. Who gets the shirt and who is playing is not just (dictated by) the individual, but the team, the way the team shapes up and how its performing.”