Sean Dyche confirms huge double Everton injury blow ahead of Man Utd clash

Sean Dyche has confirmed he will be without Arnaut Danjuma for Saturday's Premier League trip to Manchester United, while Idrissa Gueye is a major doubt.

Danjuma has been out of action since picking up an ankle ligament injury against Fulham just over a month ago, missing Everton's last five matches. Midfielder Gueye was forced off with a groin issue a fortnight ago and missed last weekend's 3-1 defeat at home to West Ham United.

Everton head to Old Trafford without a win in 10 league games and in growing danger of dropping into the bottom three, with only five points and two places between them and Luton Town in 18th. And Dyche confirmed that he looks set to be without two key players once again for the short journey across the M62.

“Arnaut continues to make progress but he’s not there yet,” Dyche told reporters on Thursday. “Gana [Gueye] will be unlikely but he's got a chance. Apart from that there’s a few knocks and bruises but everyone else should be alright.”

United will go into the game in their own poor patch, albeit a much shorter one having lost consecutive Premier League matches for the first time since September. Erik ten Hag's side were well beaten by Manchester City on Sunday and have been significantly weakened by injuries to key players.

“They're still a good outfit and they still have some very strong players,” Dyche said of United. “There's certainly no gimmes at Old Trafford and there isn't across football. When I got here there was noise about many things but especially the away form. We’ve somewhat corrected that, although there is still work to be done.”

The visit of Everton might peak the interest of United's recruitment team and new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, given reported interest in two of Dyche's key players, Amadou Onana and Jarrad Branthwaite. Young defender Branthwaite is on the radar of just about every top European club amid an excellent individual campaign, and Dyche revealed the key has been simply to let the 21-year-old do his thing.

"He has done well, he is enjoying his football, I think, enjoyed the challenge," the Toffees boss said of his young star. "He continues to learn and I continue to leave him alone."