Michael Keane returns, Harrison Armstrong’s future undecided | OneFootball

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David Moyes will have a nearly full-strength squad as Everton face Brighton at the AMEX Stadium on Saturday, with Jack Grealish being the only absentee.

The Manchester City loanee is “likely” ruled out for the rest of the season and will probably require surgery for the stress fracture in his foot.

Michael Keane returns to the matchday squad after serving his three-game ban for “violent conduct” during the game against Wolves at home. Meanwhile, Tim Iroegbunam has also returned to training after missing the last couple of matches with an unspecified injury.

Jarrad Branthwaite and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also returned to the fray in the second half against Leeds United to help the Toffees pick up a point in the last game.

"Good [we've got] Michael Keane back, we've got Jarrad Branthwaite who played 45 minutes, Kiernan [Dewsbury-Hall] back,” Moyes said in the pre-match press conference.

"We're still waiting a little bit on Charly Alcaraz and Tim Iroegbunam but they're all certainly getting much closer.

"Are they fully fit and really up to speed? Some of them not quite, but hopefully it won't take long."

The return of these players means that Harrison Armstrong’s future is now up in the air. The teenager, recalled from his loan spell at Preston North End, provided a creative spark in the middle of the park and formed a solid partnership with James Garner.

However, game time might be hard to come by in the coming months with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Idrissa Gueye, Tim Iroegbunam, Charly Alcaraz, Merlin Rohl and Garner all available at Moyes’s disposal. As such, the Everton boss hasn’t ruled out the possibility of the teenager returning to Preston to complete the remainder of his loan spell for the Championship outfit.

"I certainly won't make a decision until after Brighton. I'm in regular contact with Peter Ridsdale and Paul Heckingbottom at Preston – I'm on the phone to them every couple of days about it,” he added.

"We'll wait and see how things go but he's not looked out of place in the Premier League. That's the biggest compliment I could give Harrison, that's for sure."

Ian Wilkins 3 Posted 31/01/2026 at 11:24:24

Keane straight back in, O’Brien to full back, Branthwaite on the bench…surely not…

Raymond Fox 4 Posted 31/01/2026 at 11:50:38

The betting is :- 5/6 Brighton, 10/3 Everton & 13/5 a Draw. approx.

I think 10/3 is on the generous side for us, but take no notice of my opinion I've had no idea about how well or bad we were to perform lately.

Brighton are a dangerous and good side to watch when they are on form, but we are pretty adapt at stopping teams scoring apart from strangely 5 or 6 games were we have conceeded 3 or 4 goals.

I do fancy us to give Brighton plenty to think about and I feel we will get something out of the game.

Philip Devlin 6 Posted 31/01/2026 at 12:00:00

They haven't won this fixture since 2019 and even that was a Digne own goal.

I'm not a betting man but wouldn't lose sleep over a tenner on us.

Mal van Schaick 7 Posted 31/01/2026 at 12:19:43

I’m expecting a win and good performance today. Solid at the back and Barry scoring again. Coby.

Minik Hansen 8 Posted 31/01/2026 at 12:46:19

Come on blues you! ;)

On a serious note, I'm excited as everyone how our midfields gonna look like. Though, Ian #3, surely you're probably spot on.

9 Posted 31/01/2026 at 13:30:48

Nothing against Michael Keane, but I wouldn't be rushing to include him in the side. I hope Patterson continues at R B with someone in front (deffo NOT McNeil) the lad is maligned unfairly in my opinion and needs a run in the side. Hope also that N'Diaye is occupying Grealish's role on the left.

Christy Ring 11 Posted 31/01/2026 at 13:46:13

Branthwaite had 45min's against Leeds, and a week's training, so definitely should start, with Keane on the bench.