Marco Silva says Morgan Schneiderlin could face Southampton on Saturday afternoon after recovering from injury. It’s good timing too as Everton are short of midfielders of late – Jean-Philippe Gbamin (thigh), Andre Gomes (ankle), Fabian Delph (knock).
Silva said in Thursday’s press conference: “Morgan is working with the team and has been okay the past two weeks since he had a small problem. We do not have big numbers in that midfield zone but it is up to me to find the solutions… and we have to be strong. These are the times for the others to be ready to get their chance.”
Schneiderlin has struggled for consistency this season and may no longer be a regular when all of Everton’s midfielders are fit, but Silva needs experience in the middle of the park due to the depleting numbers. Tom Davies is fit and should start, but it remains to be seen who he’ll be alongside.
It’s been more than a month since Schneiderlin’s last appearance – a 1-0 defeat to Burnley (October 5). He was left out of the matchday squad in Everton’s 2-0 win over West Ham (October 19), was an unused substitute in Everton’s 3-2 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion (October 26) and was left out of the matchday squad in their 1-1 draw with Tottenham (November 3).
How will Everton fare at Southampton?
Win
Draw
Lose
Everton come into Saturday’s meeting off the back of win one and one draw from their last three games. They face a Southampton side sitting two places and three points below them in the table. The Saints are also winless in their last six, losing five.