Silva provides Everton injury update ahead of United test

Everton face a difficult challenge on Sunday traveling away to an up-and-down Manchester United side. Blues manager Marco Silva spoke on a number of topics ahead of the game, but started with a question on the proposal that is being mooted to prevent substitutions in time added on to prevent questionable time-wasting tactics.

“You have to understand, everything they can possibly do to prevent time-wasting and give more minutes in the game to play football is very good.”

When asked if there was anything different in his preparations this week considering the Red Devils’ reputation and that Everton haven’t won four in a row in years, he said -

“Nothing changes in our plan, in our week, because we can do the four in a row, or not.

“We’re prepared for every week in the same way, to do our maximum. Our ambition going to Old Trafford will be the same, we know they are a very good team but we’re going there to compete.

“I don’t change my focus too easily if some results aren’t the best or if you achieve good results like we did the last three games.

“I know what we are doing, I believe in our squad, in our players. Just because we’ve won the last three games, everything is okay now, that’s not the way, we have many things to improve. There are small details to improve and get better every time. This is our ambition, as a coach and our players know this too, know how demanding I am every time to improve our squad.”

Silva was asked about the three substitutions he made late last game to turn the result around.

“They came in very well and helped the team in an important moment of the match. It is what we expected when we made the change. When we put some players in on the pitch we expect they will help the team.

“We did it, first with Cenk Tosun, then we changed the formation to play with two strikers with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ademola Lookman. They did well, not just the two players who scored but Lookman also did very well. For me he is reflecting what he is doing in the training sessions every day.

“As a coach it’s important when the players can come in and do that even if they are only playing 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 10 minutes, I want all of them ready to help.”

Silva also spoke about the progress being made by certain members of his squad who are yet to play this season.

“When I look at my players it’s not important for me about the money the club spent on him last summer, or two or three years ago.

“I’m happy and will make my decision because Mina is working hard and well, is involved in our squad every day and is understanding our model because he lost more or less the first two months.

“He is working like the others to achieve what he wants, which is to play in our team, in the starting eleven. The other two are playing well (Kurt Zouma and Michael Keane), so it’s a matter of my decision, it’s very good for me to see Mina working like he is working now, fighting every day and enjoying the club. When the chance will appear for him I want him ready like he is in this moment. He’s ready.”

In other updates -

“James McCarthy is progressing well. His is a different situation, bad injury but now he’s working hard.

“You know James, he is a worker, is an intense midfielder and now is working harder every day to play when I decide.

“No (new injuries). Everything is okay. Finally all of them are okay. It’s important for me, it’s important for us as a squad. The competition is harder every day and it’s just what I want. This is the way we can grow and get better every day.”