Everton star misses Sunderland FA Cup tie but Moyes names strong starting XI
David Moyes will face his former club Sunderland(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
David Moyes has gone strong for Everton’s FA Cup tie with Sunderland – though he has one more player to add to his missing list.
Midfielder Tim Iroegbunam is the latest to drop out of his selection plans – with the 22-year-old absent after starting the midweek Premier League game with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Jack Grealish and Michael Keane are also unavailable following their red cards in that fixture.
Moyes has, therefore, gone as strong as he could by naming a starting XI filled with senior players – including first choice keeper Jordan Pickford.
Jake O’Brien will return to centre back, where he excelled against Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, to replace Keane. That provides Nathan Patterson with the opportunity to start at right back.
In the middle, Merlin Rohl enters the fray for Iroegbunam, meaning he will partner James Garner and Harrison Armstrong – who made his first Premier League start in midweek. The teenager was recalled from his loan spell at Preston North End at the start of January to help with Moyes’ selection issues.
The frontline sees a return to the starting line-up for Tyler Dibling, who looks set to lay on the right with Dwight McNeil on the left. Beto makes his first start since the goalless draw at Burnley.
That leaves Thierno Barry and Adam Aznou – who is yet to play for Everton in the league, as the only senior outfield players on the bench.
Starting XI: Pickford; Mykolenko, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Patterson; Armstrong, Garner, Rohl; McNeil, Beto, Dibling