Silva: Digne available for Blues, Delph still out

Everton take on Aston Villa on Friday night in the early game for the weekend, and the Blues have had some question marks around some players after injuries and a suspension, but manager Marco Silva provided some updates in his pre-match press conference.

Lucas Digne left the win over Watford FC with about twenty minutes to play and his fitness has been a question mark for most of the week with Leighton Baines ready to step in, but Silva confirmed that Digne was 100% again.

“He will be available for the match. Leighton will be available also, just Fabian Delph now.

“It’s possible next week he will start full sessions next week. He’s already started with the team, not full sessions, but he’s already started with the team. Next week he’ll start full sessions then it will be a possibility for him to play the next match, not the full match.”

Djibril Sidibe was brought in this summer to back up Seamus Coleman, and he is fit and available for selection as well.

“He’s trying to settle, of course his situation is a bit different than some of the youngsters, the new players that we signed, because Sidibe did the whole preseason with his former club.

“When he arrived at our club, his physical condition was very good and he was ready to play. Now it’s just a matter of him understanding our idea and philosophy, but if I decide he should play he can play.”

Alex Iwobi is yet to make an appearance and SIlva confirmed he is raring to go.

“For sure, he is looking forward to it. He started really late (with preseason), it’s his second week working with the team doing the preseason, if we can we have to take care of the situation and give him enough time to get fitter, but of course if we need him during the game he is able to help us, just not for the whole ninety minutes yet.

“He is getting better and I have no doubt he can help us with the quality he brings in.”

Morgan Schneiderlin missed the last game with a suspension after getting sent off in the Blues opener at Crystal Palace, with Jean-Philippe Gbamin making his debut start at home. Would Silva bring the veteran right back into the squad?

“It’s one of the solutions we have, to keep the side the same or not. We have solutions for that position, we have both Morgan and JP, as you know Fabian is injured and not available.

“I could decide to play a different system in the middle, but at the moment they are the solutions we have and I will decide, and the players will know tomorrow.”

Young prodigy Moise Kean has shown flashes of potential in the few minutes he’s featured so far, and Silva confirmed that it will be up to him to decide who starts upfront at Villa.

“I think it’s a normal process. He’s working hard, trying to show his quality for me and his teammates.

“He’s trying to settle as fast as he can on and off the pitch. If he will start or not, it’s up to me to decide.”