Everton host Newcastle United at the Hill Dickinson this evening, looking to secure their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-final and a step closer to ending their 31-year wait for a trophy.
It’s the first of two meetings between the Toffees and the Magpies in a five-day period, with David Moyes no doubt wanting to make it a night to remember on Merseyside.
However, if his side are to claim a vital win, they will have to overcome a resurgent side led by Matthias Jaissle, but who could he name in his starting eleven for the cup clash?
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Everton team news to face Newcastle United
Ahead of the clash against Newcastle this evening, Everton boss Moyes will have to contend with a handful of injury issues when picking his strongest starting eleven.
Jack Grealish, who missed Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to defending champions Arsenal, is once again expected to miss the contest after a recent battle with illness.
Centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite is another possible absentee, with the centre-back still awaiting the all-clear to return to action following his collision with Emi Martinez against Chelsea.
However, the biggest blow to the Scotsman could be the injury worry for left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko, who was subsequently replaced during the clash at the Emirates through injury.
Moyes has since remained tight-lipped about the fitness of the Ukrainian international, and it remains uncertain whether he will be fit enough to play any part of tonight’s meeting.
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Why Moyes could rotate his squad for the Newcastle cup clash
As has been the case throughout the majority of the Carabao Cup to date, Toffees boss Moyes has decided to shuffle his pack and hand some fringe players the chance to impress.
Tyler Dibling was undoubtedly the biggest beneficiary during the previous round win over Wolves, with the winger registering the assist for Charly Alcaraz’s late winner.
The 20-year-old has since featured for a total of just 46 minutes, but tonight could be a perfect opportunity to reward the youngster with a platform to succeed once more.
Brennan Johnson is a player who certainly hasn’t set the world alight since his move to the Hill Dickinson this summer, with his showing against Arsenal at the weekend yet another disaster.
The Welsh international could only register nine touches of the ball during his 72-minute display, and as a result could see him lose his starting eleven tonight.
|
Most Everton G+As in the PL (2026/27) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Goals |
Assists |
G+A |
|
Thierno Barry |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
Ainsley Maitland-Niles |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
James Tarkowski |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Harrison Armstrong |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Hayden Hackney |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Tyrique George |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Brennan Johnson |
0 |
1 |
1 |
The wide areas have seen a plethora of talents operate in such roles this campaign, with Moyes evidently undecided on his best options in such a department.
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Why Moyes must unleash Everton’s next Cahill vs Newcastle
During his first tenure as Everton boss, Moyes was certain about his number one option in forward areas, with attacker Tim Cahill a player who constantly delivered under his guidance.
The Aussie, who arrived from Millwall way back in 2004, would make 278 appearances during his eight-year spell on Merseyside – netting 68 goals across all competitions.
His iconic corner flag celebration was a staple of the Toffees’ success during such an era, with the supporters craving a similar talent in the present day.
However, the Scotsman may have already found his next version of the Toffees fan-favourite in the form of big-money summer addition Hayden Hackney.
The former Middlesbrough man may operate in a slightly deeper role to that of the Aussie, but he’s already mirrored him in making a big-money move from the Championship to join the Toffees.
Unlike Cahill though, he’s had to bide his time for regular action at Everton, subsequently starting just one league game and resorting to getting the majority of his minutes in cup competitions.
As a result, tonight could be the perfect platform to hand Hackney the chance to stake his claim for a regular start at the base of the manager’s two-man midfield.
In his limited opportunities, the 24-year-old has managed to impress, as seen by his assist after just 15 minutes of play during the 2-2 draw with Manchester United.
He’s also ranked in the top 15% for both passes completed and chances created this campaign, which showcases his phenomenal ability to dictate the play from deep-lying positions.
Without the ball, Hackney has been just as influential for Moyes’ men, subsequently making 7.1 defensive contributions and winning 1.6 tackles per 90.
There’s no denying fans have been impressed with his showings since his summer move, but the manager needs to hand him the chances to further his development and provide value for money.
Should Moyes start him against Newcastle tonight and allow him to have a string of appearances in the starting eleven, there’s no reason why he can’t become as influential as Cahill in the years ahead.
