Wednesday brings a David Moyes Cup as Everton FC visits Preston North End. The midweek clash is a Carabao Cup second round tie, as Moyes leads his Toffees against the club where he began his managerial career. He’ll do so with just two injury concerns: Cristian Norgaard and Timothy Iroegbunam.
Carabao Cup Second Round
Everton at Preston North End
Kickoff: Wed. Aug 26, 8pm, Deepdale, Preston, UK
It’s worth noting that Preston, where Moyes managed from 1998-2002 (his tenure ended when Everton hired him away, for his first stint as Toffees boss, which lasted until 2013), is also the club that he made the most appearances for as a player (143).
Moyes ended his playing career at Preston, and then transitioned into coaching there right away, so it’s a club that will always carry a deep meaning for him.
Everton Team News
Shifting gears to the injury situation, Iroegbunam missed the season opener (a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace) as expected, due to the adductor strain he suffered earlier in the week. He’s expected to miss about six weeks, and that throws a wrench into his transfer plans.
It had seemed inevitable that Iroegbunam was on his way out this summer, but now, his proposed move to Hull City is very much in question.
Moving on to Norgaard, the £7 million summer signing from Arsenal is just not 100% match fit yet. So it’s doubtful he’ll play any part in the early round cup competition on Wednesday night.
His return should instead come next weekend, in the league, when they travel to AFC Bournemouth.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.