Listen: Sam Allardyce ‘a little bit excited’ as key Everton players get set to return from injury
Everton manager Sam Allardyce has told talkSPORT he is ‘excited’ to have more weapons at his disposal when five of his key players return to action from injury.
According to the Toffees boss, Leighton Baines, Seamus Coleman, Ross Barkley, James McCarthy and Yannick Bolasie are all close to making a return.
Barkley (hamstring), Coleman (broken leg) and Bolasie (knee) are all yet to play this season due to their respective injury troubles, while McCarthy’s recurring hamstring problem has restricted him to just one outing in the EFL Cup.
Baines has made 20 appearances for the Toffees this term but is currently sidelined with a calf injury he picked up in the 4-1 defeat to Southampton in November.
Allardyce has turned the team’s fortunes around since being appointed manager last month - leading the team to three wins and a draw, against Merseyside rivals Liverpool at Anfield, in four games in charge.
He has done so without the majority of his big-name stars, and the boss is looking forward to the added firepower when they return.
Quizzed over the fitness and unsure future of Barkley, ‘Big Sam’ said in an exclusive interview with talkSPORT host Jim White: “Yannick Bolasie is probably sooner than him, but we’re pushing hard for Ross Barkley, we’re pushing hard for Seamus Coleman, we’re pushing hard for James McCarthy and we’re pushing hard for Leighton Baines.
“If I had those five players available for me… I get a little bit more excited about getting them back because you know how much quality and experience they have playing for Everton football club.”
Allardyce’s comments could open the door for Barkley to return to the Everton side, having been frozen out by axed boss Ronald Koeman and heavily linked with an exit.
The midfielder, who has only six months remaining on his current contract, was linked with Chelsea and Tottenham in the summer transfer window, but ended up staying at Goodison Park after suffering an injury in pre-season.
Barkley reportedly rejected a move to Stamford Bridge after a £35million bid was accepted by Everton, and was then close to joining Spurs before his hamstring problem complicated the deal.
The 24-year-old was widely expected to leave the club either in January or when his deal ends at the end of the season, but Allardyce’s appointment could pave his way back into the team and could just see the England international remain on Merseyside.