Dyche down to '14 recognised players' for Spurs game

Everton head Sean Dyche faces an early play action situation aft saying he is down to "around 14 recognised first-team players" for nan travel to Tottenham.

The Toffees recreation to northbound London for Saturday's Premier League crippled (kick-off 15:00 BST) pursuing a 3-0 opening location defeat by Brighton past weekend.

Injuries and suspension mean Dyche has nary established right-back to telephone upon and nan Blues person been linked pinch a move for Kieran Trippier, who wants to time off Newcastle.

“We are stretched unfortunately," said Dyche. "We are down to astir 14 recognised first-team players astatine nan minute; that is not perfect.

"The situation is correct successful beforehand of us, arsenic always."

Everton are short astatine full-back arsenic skipper Seamus Coleman is dealing pinch a calf issue, Nathan Patterson is retired for nan agelong word and Ashley Young is suspended aft being sent disconnected against Brighton.

Midfielder James Garner, who tin capable successful astatine right-back, is besides retired truthful teen Roman Dixon could beryllium drafted in, while James Tarkowski is simply a uncertainty and chap centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite continues to retrieve from a groin problem and is "not close" to returning.

"It is still an ongoing challenge," said Dyche. "We person not sewage overmuch financially to correct nan situation. We person conscionable sewage to activity pinch nan players and dream their fittingness gets backmost to being afloat fresh and past staying fit."

Everton person spent astir £40m connected caller signings this summer, while recouping successful nan region of £70m by trading Amadou Onana, Lewis Dobbin and Ben Godfrey.

It is understood immoderate further arrivals successful nan remainder of nan transportation model would astir apt beryllium connected indebtedness deals.

Asked if nan nine expected to beryllium engaged earlier nan deadline connected Friday of adjacent week, Dyche replied: "I deliberation that is unlikely.

"We worked very difficult successful nan marketplace and brought successful players who we deliberation tin create into nan Premier League. They are not each game-ready straightaway, but we deliberation they are bully players that tin turn into nan club.

"Working very difficult to get those deals done past losing players arsenic well, location is not overmuch much wiggle room. If location is, past that is helpful, but if location is not past that is nan measurement it is."