Everton line-ups as Abdoulaye Doucoure returns and two players dropped vs Crystal Palace

Everton will hope to climb out of the Premier League bottom three when they face managerless Crystal Palace at Goodison Park tonight.And Sean Dyche’s men could be boosted by the return of Abdoulaye Doucoure, as well as Amadou Onana and captain Seamus Coleman.Everton might have hoped to have received some more positive news in terms of the verdict from their points deduction appeal ahead of Crystal Palace’s visit to Goodison Park but regardless how much of a reprieve the Blues get when fighting what currently stands as the biggest sporting sanction in 135 years of English top flight football, their biggest priority has to be getting themselves out of trouble through their endeavours on the pitch.

That would start with securing a first Premier League win in over two months against an Eagles side who they have already defeated twice this season. The south London outfit go into this fixture in disarray themselves with their manager Roy Hodgson, one of football’s true gentlemen, hospitalised on Friday amid reports that he was on the verge of being sacked. He would officially step down on Monday afternoon, leaving Paddy McCarthy and Ray Lewington to lead the team.

While his opposite number Sean Dyche is an old friend and wishes the veteran gaffer well, there is no room for sentiment in football when it comes to the result and Everton desperately need to get back to winning ways themselves with a victory that could put them within touching distance of their visitors before they even get any of those points earned on the pitch back.It’s time for Everton to wheel out the big guns and that means top scorer Abdoulaye Doucoure, club captain Seamus Coleman and £33.5million signing Amadou Onana.

My team (4-5-1): Pickford; Coleman, Mykolenko, Tarkowski, Branthwaite; Garner, Onana, Doucoure, Harrison, McNeil; Calvert-LewinMatt Jones – Garner and McNeil droppedWith some crucial players coming back from injury layoffs, there is a chance for Sean Dyche to freshen up his Everton squad on Monday – he should take it.

The team has battled hard during a recent winless run and there have been some growing signs of wear and tear. Some players who looked jaded – like Jack Harrison – may have to play, but others could be brought out.Fitness permitting, Ben Godfrey should continue at right-back after a decent run of performances, with the rest of the back four picking itself following a season of consistent displays.In midfield, the returns of Amadou Onana and Abdoulaye Doucoure could be huge. Both will surely start and the impressive form of Idrissa Gueye since his return from the Africa Cup of Nations should see him get the nod over a jaded James Garner.