Three weeks without Premier League football have felt unusually long, but Everton can reach the end of the international break feeling reasonably good about where they are.
David Moyes’ side went into it unbeaten in all competitions, with nine points from their opening five league games and five clean sheets from seven matches overall. The pause interrupted some genuine momentum, but it has also given Moyes time to work with those who stayed behind and edge others closer to a return.
Everton should emerge from it with a few more options than they had when they beat Ipswich Town at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Moyes has used the break well
The timing initially looked awkward. Everton were playing well, while Moyes had already made clear that his squad remained smaller than he would ideally like.
Those left at Finch Farm were given a short break before returning to work, while a behind-closed-doors friendly with Blackburn Rovers gave valuable minutes to players who needed them.
Charly Alcaraz and Thierno Barry were among the reported scorers in the 3-3 draw. Sixteen-year-old Jonathan Nsangou also found the net after being given 45 minutes with the senior side, another encouraging moment in what has been an eye-catching period for the academy youngster.
There has been progress away from the match action too. Christian Norgaard is back in first-team training, while Rohl was expected to be available again after the international break.
Their situations will become clearer as Everton prepare for Sunday’s trip to Hull City, but having either available would increase Moyes’ options. Having both would be a significant boost for a squad whose lack of depth remains its most obvious weakness.
International duty has largely been kind
Everton sent a sizeable group away and, with Tuesday’s England games still to come, the international programme has largely gone well.
Jake O’Brien has accumulated significant minutes for the Republic of Ireland, while Brennan Johnson has done likewise for Wales. James Garner has added further senior England experience and Jarrad Branthwaite is back in the international picture after his earlier injury problems.
There has been encouragement lower down the age groups as well. Harrison Armstrong’s involvement with England Under-20s earned him a promotion into the Under-21 squad, where he joined Tyler Dibling and Tyrique George.
That progress is useful for Moyes rather than merely decorative. Everton’s relatively small senior group means younger players could have genuine roles to play as the season develops, particularly when injuries and suspensions begin to accumulate.
Vitalii Mykolenko is the obvious concern. The left-back returned to Everton after playing once for Ukraine before missing their subsequent fixtures, leaving his fitness something to monitor ahead of Hull. Everton don’t have an obvious like-for-like senior replacement at left-back, so his availability is particularly important.
Everton are in a good place, but it is still early
Perhaps the most encouraging part of Everton’s start is that it hasn’t depended on everything falling perfectly into place. Barry has scored goals without yet looking like the finished article, Dibling is still being introduced carefully and Norgaard hasn’t played a competitive minute for the club. Rohl has also been unavailable during the recent run.
Moyes has nevertheless built a team that is difficult to beat. Jordan Pickford remains dependable, Branthwaite and James Tarkowski have provided stability in front of him and Everton have more attacking variety than they carried through much of last season.
There are still clear vulnerabilities. The squad remains thin; Mykolenko’s situation highlights the shortage of cover in certain positions and five Premier League matches is far too small a sample from which to draw sweeping conclusions.
The next run of games should provide a better measure. Everton return at Hull before Newcastle visit Hill Dickinson Stadium in the Carabao Cup fourth round. Five days later, Moyes’ side travel to St James’ Park to face Newcastle again in the Premier League.
That sequence will ask rather more of a squad that has made an excellent start without having much room for injuries. For now, Everton remain unbeaten, some missing players are moving closer to contention and several younger members of the squad have made useful progress.
The international break arrived when Moyes’ side had momentum. As it reaches its final day, Everton appear to have come through it without losing the sense that something promising is beginning to take shape.
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