David Moyes has stated that Everton would be without several key players for their last Premier League match of the season against Newcastle United on Sunday at St. James’ Park.
Everton enters this match with no pressure, having already secured a 13th-place finish — unlike their opponents, who are in a must-win situation to qualify for the Champions League. Although the Toffees have little at stake, the game provides an opportunity to finish the season on a strong note.
Everton waved an emotional farewell to Goodison Park last weekend, ending their 133-year stay with a comfortable victory against bottom-placed Southampton. Iliman Ndiaye scored twice to round out a wonderful night for the stadium’s more than 39,000 attendees.
The Merseyside club will move to the new 52,888-seat Hill Dickinson Stadium in Bramley Moore Dock next season, as Goodison Park becomes the new home of Everton’s women’s team.
They will now try to end the season on a high note by perhaps undermining Newcastle’s Champions League chances. Last season, this precise fixture ended 1-1, which hurt Newcastle’s European push, and they’ll be hoping to recreate that result on Sunday.
Jarrad Branthwaite and Seamus Coleman to miss Newcastle clash
Moyes announced to the media before of Sunday’s match that crucial defenders Jarrad Branthwaite and Seamus Coleman will not play at St James’ Park, adding to Everton’s defensive troubles.
Branthwaite and Coleman were both injured during the 2-0 win over Southampton, with the former out for four to five weeks with a hamstring injury and the latter nursing a thigh ailment.
“He [Branthwaite] is injured and won’t be available,” Moyes said. “It will probably be four or five weeks with a hamstring injury. Seamus is not available either.”
He added, “There’s not much we can do about it, but he is a big loss to us, and we will have to live with it just now. Seamus is not available.”
With James Tarkowski also missing, Moyes faces a defensive problem that could force him to reorganise his back line, potentially depending on untested individuals or fielding others out of position.
Ashley Young, who is likely to make his final Everton appearance before departing as a free agent, will undoubtedly be included.
