Everton will return to Premier League action on Thursday night, looking for a much-needed win over Newcastle United at Goodison Park.
The Blues fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Wolves on Sunday to leave Frank Lampard ’s side above the relegation zone on goal difference. With the teams around them starting to pick up points, Everton have been placed into a perilous position, despite still having games in hand over their relegation rivals.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, the Everton boss gave fitness updates on several members of his squad , including Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The England international missed the defeat to Wolves through illness and though the striker has since returned to training, Lampard said the 25-year-old would need to be assessed ahead of Thursday's game, while Yerry Mina is still unavailable.
That is one of several decisions that the Blues boss will have to consider. And with the latest team news in mind, the ECHO is giving Everton supporters the chance to pick the side that they want to see face Newcastle on Thursday night. Have your say with our custom-made widget below and select your ideal starting XI.
Lampard will be hoping the support of the Goodison crowd can spur his side on to victory against an in-form Newcastle side that have won six of their last eight games.
Asked if there were any lessons Everton could learn from Newcastle’s upturn in results, Lampard said: “You look at Newcastle since Eddie Howe came in and they’ve made great progress, you have to give a huge credit to him. But their first period of games, (he would’ve learned) what could change and things take time.
“I think Newcastle used January to their credit. Financially, they’re in a position to add well in personnel. Sometimes that’s a huge part of it as well. We’re not in that position so we can only focus on ourselves.”
