Andre Gomes failed to make the matchday squad in Everton’s 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth and Marco Silva has revealed why. The 26-year-old has been a regular in midfield this season, starting against Crystal Palace (August 10), Watford (August 17), Aston Villa (August 23) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (September 1), but he was a notable absentee on Sunday.
Silva said to Everton’s official website: “He felt something after the Wolves match. He tried to work during the week but in the last days he felt it again. It’s the ribs. It’s something we will have to see day by day how he recovers from that situation. What we want to do is get him ready as fast as we can.”
Jean-Philippe Gbamin was also unavailable for Everton, so Morgan Schneiderlin partnered Fabian Delph at the heart of the midfield. The Toffees struggled in Gomes’ absence too, suffering their second Premier League defeat in just three games. The results sees Silva’s side sitting 11th in the division with seven points from five.
Everton’s away form has been a big problem. The Blues have picked up just one point from a possible nine on the road and have scored just one away goal for their troubles too – only Aston Villa (0 points) and Norwich City (0) have a worse away record in the top-flight.
Everton next face Sheffield United on September 21, but time will tell if Gomes is fit enough to return to the side.
Read Crippy Cooke’s previous article