Here are your Everton morning headlines for Saturday, October 31.
Kean will be back next season - Ancelotti
Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that Moise Kean will return to the club next year.
The Italian striker has made an impressive start to life on loan at Paris Saint-Germain, scoring four times for the French champions already this season.
However, the 20-year-old will return to Goodison Park in July with Everton having refused to include the option for PSG to buy Kean in the deal.
“This is what the contract says,” said Ancelotti when asked if Kean will return to Everton.
"We decided to allow him to go on loan, to play more, to have more opportunity to play more. He is showing his quality and he will be back next season.
“I didn't speak with him but I saw him score four goals in two games.
"This is good. This is good for Paris Saint Germain, for him and for us also."
Newcastle boss Bruce defends Pickford
Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce has defended Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
The 26-year-old has been criticised in some quarters this season for certain performances and the incident with Virgil van Dijk during the 2-2 derby draw.
However, Bruce - who was Sunderland boss when Pickford was coming through the youth ranks at the Black Cats - has defended the England international.
“Let me tell you, he’s a very good goalkeeper,” said Magpies boss Bruce ahead of Everton’s trip to Newcastle on Sunday.
“When you’re England’s No 1, you’re there to be shot at. Every mistake he makes will be highlighted.
"That goes with the territory of being England’s No.1. He’ll have to deal with that.
"When he’s played for England, he’s never let anybody down. He just has to adapt to it, get on with it, and accept it’s part of being a goalkeeper, especially if you’re England’s No 1.”
West Ham victory proved Nkounkou is ready to deputise for Digne
Niels Nkounkou has already proven his worth as a back-up for Lucas Digne, according to the panel on the latest Royal Blue podcast.
Nkounkou may be drafted into Ancelotti’s line-up this weekend in place of the suspended Digne having impressed during Everton’s Carabao Cup win over West Ham United in September.
“He moulded his performance around the opposition that he was facing. West Ham had changed their side as you say but they're still going to provide more of a threat, with respect, than Salford and Fleetwood would,” said the ECHO’s Adam Jones on the podcast.
“He wasn't just bombing forward against West Ham, he was much more aware of his positioning and defensive capabilities on that night and the amount of tackles he put in across that game was really good, the amount of interceptions and clearances too was similar.
“Maybe we didn't see his attacking potential reflected in that game, but we had more creative players on the pitch further forward that would take that job anyway.
“In that game against West Ham I think he showed he's clearly capable defensively of playing against a Premier League team, so it'll be really interesting to see it again this weekend.”
