Everton have had a good run of results lately as they are currently four games unbeaten with some vital late goals keeping the momentum going.
The most recent one was from Michael Keane whose strike took everyone at Goodison Park by surprise as the defender fired in a wondergoal to leave Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris motionless.
Keane’s late equaliser came after Everton had gone down to 10 men due to Abdoulaye Doucoure striking Harry Kane in the face after an altercation off the ball.
READ MORE: Sean Dyche must make most crucial Everton call yet for Manchester United
The Mali international has been a key man for Sean Dyche since he arrived, as he reintroduced him back into the first-team fold after Frank Lampard had seemingly frozen him out during his final phase as Everton boss.
Doucoure has played in a more advanced position under Dyche, helping Demarai Gray in attacking areas but also dropping back into the midfield when Everton have been required to drop deep. His three-game absence will be a blow.
Speaking about the suspension In his press conference Dyche said: “We don’t know if he will be a miss or not, you have to wait and see because it’s a great opportunity for someone else to play.”
Who could that someone else be that Dyche turns to?
The clearest replacement for Doucoure is arguably James Garner. Even though he isn’t a like-for-like replacement as he can slot into a flat midfield three.
He hasn’t really had too much of a chance to shine at Everton since he joined in the summer so he will be raring to go.
At just 22 years old there is hope that Garner can have a big future after he impressed a lot for Nottingham Forest in the Championship last season, but the back injury he suffered in November has hindered any progress he has made at the club.
Doucoure’s suspension could provide him with a way in even though Dyche would more than likely have to alter the system a little bit due to Garner being less attacking minded than the former Watford midfielder, which could even see Amadou Onana pushed slightly forward.
Tom Davies in that sense is similar to Garner and he has a good chance to get his name in the starting line-up as Dyche tends to go to him off the bench in games more than Garner.
In the last five games Davies has come on four times compared to Garner’s one outing which could hint at him being preferred over the former Manchester United man.
Another strong contender to replace Doucoure is Stamford Bridge hero Ellis Simms.
Simms was having a good season on loan at Sunderland in the Championship before he was recalled in January amid Everton’s striker crisis, and he got his first senior goal for the club in dramatic circumstances late on against Chelsea.
The same system could be used with Simms going up top and moving Gray either into the more deeper attacking role or onto the wing with Alex Iwobi in the middle, as he played there frequently under Lampard.
Another way Simms could be used is if Dyche decides to fully throw it back to his Burnley days with the classic 4-4-2.
He could go upfront alongside Gray or even Neal Maupay with a possible big man little man approach. But at Old Trafford today, perhaps sterner three-man midfield would make more sense whilst Everton could also then lose the impact from Simms coming off the bench if he starts.
The next two after that though could tempt Dyche to go with two strikers as they are against Fulham at home, who have lost their last four in all competitions, and Crystal Palace away who are in the relegation scrap with the Blues.
It gives several players an opportunity step up and take the chance to help their own Everton careers whilst simultaneously dragging the club away from the bottom three. Dyche will certainly need the options as he contemplates the best way to tackle the next few games without Doucoure.
READ NEXT:
