If anything summed up the paucity of attacking options in David Moyes’ squad, it was the desperate decision to bring on centre-back Michael Keane towards the end of the weekend’s FA Cup defeat to Bournemouth as an auxiliary striker.
Beto, the side’s only fit senior forward, scored twice against Leicester City a week earlier but this time struggled to make an impact. Largely starved of service, one air shot in the box saw Moyes put his head in his hands. In general play, he struggled to give the side a platform.
Everton are threadbare in a number of key positions.
With three strikers injured and main creator Dwight McNeil still around a month away from returning, Everton only had the inexperienced 18-year-old Martin Sherif, who is yet to make a first-team appearance, as forward cover on the bench.
They had three goalkeepers and three Under-21 players in their 20-man squad, and also looked short at full-back. A summer rebuild is coming at Everton and new full-backs will feature high on their list.
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