Sean Dyche provides Dele Alli injury update as Everton squad 'under pressure' ahead of Man City

Sean Dyche has admitted that Dele is still 'not close' to returning to action for Everton.

The Toffees are struggling when it comes to availability as they welcome Premier League champions Manchester City to Goodison Park tomorrow (20.15 GMT). Abdoulaye Docuoure (hamstring) is set to miss a third successive game while Idrissa Gana Gueye limped off in the 2-1 loss against Tottenham Hotspur and is not expected to feature.

It means that Everton are lacking midfield options while Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman have also been sidelined. Dele hasn't played for Everton since May 2022. The former England international spent last season on loan a Besiktas but that spell was cut short as he required hip surgery in April while he has been struggling with a calf issue.

And although Dele has been back in training, he's still to get any minutes for the under-21s - meaning he's still unavailable. Asked if Dele was close to returning ahead of the Man City encounter, Everton boss Dyche replied: "No not yet. He's not close yet. When we slimmed down the squad in the summer and looked at things financially and the money and all the rest of that, there is a challenge in that.

"You can't have players everything, you've got to fill the slots the best you can, use what money's available and get a balanced view of the squad. When there are runs like this and these games, they often put pressure on the squad and we'll deal with it yet."

On whether Docuoure will be back, Dyche said: "No, I don’t think for City. I think that’s a bit close. He’s making good progress and we’re hoping he gets back on the grass in the next few days - not straight away with us, but just in his return to fitness.

“We have to be careful because we keep getting players back fit, but then we start running out again. Idrissa has got an injury which doesn’t look that promising on the first showing. We’ll find out more in the coming days. We’re trying to balance the games programme against the squad, and against the injuries, and the risk and reward of players coming in."