Sean Dyche answers question he 'always gets asked' after Everton change and Arnaut Danjuma appearance
Everton played with two up front against Luton but lost the game 2-1 in injury time
Sean Dyche acknowledged Beto and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s partnership had looked ‘rusty’ as he detailed his search for answers over Everton’s injury list.
The pair started up front together for the first time as Dyche shifted his approach in an attempt to deal with the absence of Abdoulaye Doucoure and Andre Gomes.
While they did create some problems for the defence of Luton Town, it came at the expense of any cohesion from the rest of the side as Everton went direct to the forwards.
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After the FA Cup defeat, Dyche said he had learned something new from watching the pair together - a lesson that could be key with Doucoure expected to miss the Premier League trip to Fulham in midweek.
Dyche changed tactics in a bid to deal with the injury crisis undermining his efforts to find momentum going into the second half of the season. Calvert-Lewin and Beto had only played together once before - in the final stages of the league defeat to the same opposition earlier this season.
Asked how he thought they played together on Saturday, Dyche reflected on the display with honesty. He said: “They had moments. I don’t think it looked like they had played lots together, which they have not. Dom played well again, I thought, he hasn’t nicked his goal but I thought he played well. In the second half I thought there was a little more power and edge to it but they are two strikers who are not used to playing as a two together - I always get the question: ‘Why aren’t you playing two upfront?’ It is not that easy, you need two players who can combine and play together and learn how to play together. That is in its infancy.”
Dyche is not just dealing with injuries in midfield. Seamus Coleman was also absent and Ashley Young returned to the bench though this game was deemed too early for him to start as he continues to work towards full match fitness. Idrissa Gueye is also unavailable while Senegal remain in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Dyche pointed to the impact of so many absences as being key to his decision to go two up top. He said: “At the end of the day we have to look for a team that can win a game with so many injuries in the camp. What is the best system - previously we had gone three at the back? Today we thought two centre forwards could be effective and there were moments in the second half when we thought it was going to be. We are working with a squad and trying to piece it together and continue to look for a team to win games. It is slightly unfamiliar for this club to have two centre forwards so you can only do so much work with the players in the week to get it right but the real truth of any team is when you play in the real stuff, that is when you see. There were moments but you could tell it was rusty in the sense of the way they work together, so they have learned something new.”
An alternative to Dyche’s plans against Luton would have been to start Arnaut Danjuma, either on the wing or off a front man - both roles he has enjoyed success in. The attacker is on loan from Villarreal but, while Everton have the final say, there remains a question over his future given his desire for minutes and that he started neither this match nor the third round replay despite so many absences.
Asked what Danjuma needed to do to get more opportunity, Dyche said: “He came on and affected the game and that is what we want, for him to keep affecting the game.”