The Everton manager has named his team for the clash with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday
Roman Dixon will make his Everton debut against Tottenham Hotspur as Sean Dyche turns to the 19-year-old amid a defensive crisis. The right back has enjoyed a solid start to the season in the Under-21s, scoring and creating a goal in the opening Premier League Two game of the season against Blackburn Rovers and then featuring in the midweek win over Tranmere Rovers in the EFL Trophy.
With senior options including Seamus Coleman, Nathan Patterson and James Garner injured, and with Ashley Young suspended after his red card while playing right back against Brighton and Hove Albion last week, solving the issue on the right side of his defence was the biggest issue facing him this weekend. After suggesting the academy may not be his preferred route to a solution the Blues boss has indeed turned to the England youth prospect. With Mason Holgate on the bench having previously played right back under Dyche, the move creates additional uncertainty over his future at the club.
The decision may have been made easier by James Tarkowski, who missed training for the first part of this week, being deemed fit to start, meaning Dixon will be anchored by experience beside him. Tarkowski starts in a back four alongside Michael Keane and with Vitalii Mykolenko on the left.
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Ahead of them, Dyche has stuck with his trusted wide men Dwight McNeil and Jack Harrison, who will flank Idrissa Gueye, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Tim Iroegbunam – who keeps his place after a positive debut last week. Dominic Calvert-Lewin will lead the front line. Jesper Lindstrom and Iliman Ndiaye are among those on the bench, with Dixon the only change from seven days ago.
