Yahoo News Everton without five players for Aston Villa clash as Jarrad Branthwaite update given
Everton manager Sean Dyche has confirmed he will be without five first-team players for their trip to Aston Villa this weekend.
Unai Emery's side host the Toffees in search of their first home victory of the season after losing 2-0 to Arsenal between away wins against West Ham and Leicester City before the September international break. Villa thrashed Everton 4-0 at home last season and drew 0-0 at Goodison Park in January.
Everton have started the campaign with three straight defeats after being well-beaten by Brighton on the opening weekend and losing 4-0 to Tottenham. The Blues followed that defeat up with a staggering 3-2 loss to the Cherries at home.
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Dyche was handed a new fitness concern to deal with over the September international break as captain Seamus Coleman was forced to withdraw while playing for the Republic of Ireland against England last Saturday.
The right-back sat out his country's subsequent game with Greece and returned to Everton for treatment and is now "touch and go" to feature against Villa on Saturday.
Strikers Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti remain sidelined for Everton, while Nathan Patterson is also still out. Centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite is back out on the grass after an injury, but Dyche says he still has some way to go before he is considered for selection.
Since their return to the Premier League in 2019, Villa have remained unbeaten in all 10 of their league meetings with Everton, keeping seven clean sheets and conceding just three goals in that run.
