But, building a great dependence on one player can prove costly when they are not available, as the 31-year-old so often has been this term.

Add to that the losses of Amadou Onana and Seamus Coleman, and there are three important positions left terribly handicapped.

Negativity is widespread at the best of times with Everton given their current appeal and takeover issues, but at least Alan Myers is trying to be positive.

What Alan Myers stated about Everton’s appeal

As one of the club’s most-valued and well-informed reporters, his word is cherished on Merseyside.

However, in this situation it is not new information he gives, but simply his view on the future appeal verdict, which is due in the coming days.

It has been a long, difficult and disgracefully drawn-out procedure by the Premier League, and the hope is that this delay will reward a beneficial outcome.

That is at least what Myers is hypothesising, as when asked by a fan to offer some hope, he took to X to write: ‘I can’t give them a boost sadly but I am hopeful as it’s taken longer than I thought and maybe that could be a good sign, but I think we all just want to know what we have to deal with more than anything.’

What may this wait signify for Everton?

Well, this wait has simply added to the speculative aspect of this entire trial.

The Premier League have been accused of boasting subjectivity that is not proper for a ruling of such tremendous financial impact, and the lax deadlines and ambiguous rules have further added to this discontent.

On one hand, this wait could be as positive as Myers claims, since the independent panel is waiting so the Premier League can get their affairs in order to survive the parliamentary fury that would follow.

However, on the other hand, this wait could be a negative, with that preparation time being allowed instead to deal with the hellfire that Everton will pour down upon the division for standing alongside their severe and unjust deduction.

Either way, they need to make a choice fast, as Tony Cottee claimed earlier today, or else face anger regardless of the outcome.

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