Everton defender James Tarkowski is set to see his ever-presence at the club come to an end this weekend when the Toffees travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Saturday.
Tarkowski has played all 109 Premier League games since joining Everton from Burnley in 2022, but was forced off with a hamstring injury early in the second half against Manchester City last weekend, potentially signalling the end of his season.
Divisive figure Michael Keane was brought on to replace Tarkowski, but had a torrid afternoon, and may well have now played his last game for the club, with mass criticism coming in for his performance in the 2-0 defeat.
Instead, Jake O'Brien, who has performed exceptionally as a right-back since David Moyes returned as manager, could move into a more natural centre-back position, with the Everton boss having three options to choose from to fill in at right-back, in Nathan Patterson, Seamus Coleman and Ashley Young.
Armando Broja will also be missing in attack as he is ineligible to face his parent club, so that should see Beto return to lead the line, with Youssef Chermiti being left out of the squad entirely last weekend due to an in-house matter.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin remains out with a hamstring issue, while loanees Orel Mangala (knee), and Jesper Lindstrom (hernia) will not play again this season.
Idrissa Gueye was withdrawn early last weekend, but Moyes was quick to downplay any suggestions that he had also picked up an injury, stating that the Senegalese midfielder was simply struggling with cramp.
Moyes is being careful in utilising Dwight McNeil on his return from injury, as the winger had missed four months with a knee problem, and has been restricted to substitute appearances in the last three matches since his comeback.
Everton stopper Jordan Pickford could be a busy man in this clash, but he has enjoyed many of his previous meetings with Chelsea, keeping a career-high seven clean sheets against the Blues, as well as winning the Premier League's Save of the Season for the double stop he made against them in the 2021-22 campaign, which led to the club's survival.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Patterson, O'Brien, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Gueye, Garner, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Beto
Click here to see how Chelsea could line up for this clash.
Andrew Delaney
