Andros Townsend is ‘pushing’ Rafa Benitez to pick him for Everton’s FA Cup tie with Hull City – despite fracturing his foot less than a month ago. Benitez is mulling over whether to grant the winger his wish but the Blues boss has suggested that he will not risk striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Rafa Benitez said: “Dominic, we knew 90 minutes could be difficult for him, you are losing and you keep our striker on the pitch, that is what you have to do,” Benitez said. We have to manage him so I don’t think he will be available for tomorrow but he is doing well, he is training and hopefully he can be ready for the next game. Townsend, I will make a special mention to Andros. Even with his injury, he is taking a risk, pushing us, and he wants to be available. That is the kind of player every fan is expecting to see with the Everton shirt on. I am really pleased because he is pushing. That is good. Two or three players who have little things also want to be there.”
Jarrad Branthwaite was going to keep his place in the starting XI for last weekend’s game with Brighton before the 19-year-old picked up a hamstring injury during the week.
Rafa Benitez added: “We lost Jarrad Branthwaite the other day because it was too demanding a training session for him, so we have to manage him for one week, I think. We have some, but not too many, Covid cases and we have to be careful with some players but, overall we are bringing back players. Yerry Mina is training, starting with the team in part of the session, but it is a question of how long we take. [Salomon] Rondon, who was playing when not fit, playing for the team, is training well. [Cenk] Tosun is training again now. The fans, maybe, expect to see this one or the other one, but the reality is we are bringing back players little by little.”
Everton were due to train again on Friday afternoon, and Benitez said he would make a decision on whether new-boys Vitaliy Mykolenko and Nahhan Patterson, would face Hull, following that session. Richarlison also remains out with a calf problem.
