Double boost for Everton ahead of Huddersfield game

Everton’s dire situation in defence got marginally better for today’s game against visiting Huddersfield Town with the news that Michael Keane has resumed training. The defender left the Southampton game with what looked like concussion symptoms, capping a run of miserable performances for the Blues.

Leighton Baines, who picked up a calf injury in the same game, is still out and no return date has been mentioned. The Toffees are perilously thin at the position with Cuco Martina the only cover, and he is likely to start again today.

Oumar Niasse returns from a two-game suspension and will rightly feel that a grievous miscarriage of justice has been meted out to him. The ban was a result of the ‘diving panel’ reviewing the foul against him that resulted in a penalty and a goal at Crystal Palace.

Ross Barkley and James McCarthy remain a couple of weeks away.

For Huddersfield, forward Rajiv van La Parra is out after being sent off last weekend against Manchester City. Manager David Wagner will also be missing Michael Hefele and Jon Stankovic while Philip Billing is still a couple of months away from returning following ankle surgery.