Everton defender Michael Keane is a major doubt for the team's upcoming Premier League fixture against Brentford this Sunday. The centre-back missed the Toffees' impressive 2-0 away victory over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday due to a fresh injury concern.
Keane's Absence and Defensive Reshuffle
Michael Keane has been a virtual ever-present in Everton's back line this season, forming a reliable partnership with James Tarkowski. His absence at the City Ground forced a defensive reshuffle, with Jake O'Brien moving into central defence and Nathan Patterson being handed his first start of the campaign at right-back.
Midfielder Charly Alcaraz also missed the Forest match through injury. Manager David Moyes was notably guarded about the specifics of both players' issues when speaking before the game. 'I'm not going to tell you what the injuries are, but obviously they're both missing the game, so we're disappointed because it adds to quite a big number at the moment,' Moyes stated.
Moyes Remains Tight-Lipped on Weekend Returns
Despite the comfortable win, which propelled Everton up to eighth in the table, Moyes offered no guarantees on a quick return for either player. When questioned post-match about their availability for the Brentford game, the Everton boss remained evasive.
'I'm not giving any details on that just now,' he told reporters. 'I'll see how it goes over the next few days.' This leaves Everton fans waiting for further updates as the weekend approaches.
Praise for a Depleted Squad's Resilience
Moyes was full of praise for his squad's performance in overcoming their injury woes to secure a vital three points. He highlighted the significance of the result given the selection challenges he faced.
'I think [it's] one of the better results we've had since I've come into the job because of how depleted we are,' Moyes said to BBC Sport. 'We didn't have enough senior players on the bench to make too many changes. We defended well and took our moments when we got them.'
The victory leaves Everton just four points behind fourth-placed Liverpool as they aim to carry their momentum into the New Year's Day clash with Brentford at Goodison Park.
