Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has offered a reassuring squad update in comments offered to the club’s official website ahead of the Toffees’ clash with Leeds on Saturday evening.
Defender Mason Holgate, who has just returned from a toe injury, is appearing to be making huge strides towards regaining full fitness, as Ancelotti offered some encouraging comments.
The Italian outlined: “We were without Mason Holgate, also. He is recovering from his injury but he is quite fit. A fit Mason will be important for us.”
The update on the 24-year-old should come as an immense boost to Ancelotti’s plans ahead of Leeds’ visit to Elland Road. The Everton boss opted for a back three in the win over Fulham last Sunday and has signalled how the return of Holgate can help to make a success of the system change. He told evertontv:
Of course, we have to work in training [on our defensive performances]. We have time to work on this, fortunately, and we have time to recover well the players that were tired on Sunday.
We changed the shape a little bit against Fulham but we have to be more compact. The backline has to be more close.
I have this option [to play three at the back], because we have quality in the centre-back position.
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Ancelotti may well need as many defenders as possible to be fit if the Toffees are to secure back-to-back wins, given Leeds’ impressive goal return so far this season.
Holgate’s return could go a long way in shoring up his new defensive shape, much to the benefit of the Toffees’ chances of a second successive victory.
