Jack Harrison appears set to make his first appearance for Everton’s first team since his loan move from Leeds United in the upcoming Carabao Cup clash with Aston Villa, writes the Goodison.News. The winger arrived at Everton from Elland Road over a month ago while still recovering from a hip injury that was initially expected to sideline him until after the international break. However, after making his return to action with the Under-21s last Friday, the Englishman now seems to be fit enough to compete at the senior level.
Harrison’s exclusion from the squad for the EFL Trophy defeat to Burton Albion on Tuesday night strongly suggests that he is very likely to be involved in the EFL Cup fixture 24 hours later. Manager Sean Dyche is keen to advance to the fourth round of the competition after securing the first win of the season against Brentford last weekend. Progressing in the Carabao Cup could help generate momentum for Everton after a challenging start to the Premier League campaign.
Before the 3-1 victory in West London, Dyche had mentioned that Harrison had returned to training but wasn’t quite “ready to go” for top-flight matches. Given the need to rotate the squad while also guarding against potential injuries, Harrison is likely to find a place on the bench in Wednesday night’s clash with Aston Villa.
Harrison’s absence from Tuesday’s action hints strongly at the possibility of him making his Everton debut. If he can recapture the form he displayed at Leeds after recovering from injury, it would be a significant boost for Dyche, especially following the departures of Alex Iwobi and Demarai Gray over the summer.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s return from injury already resulted in a goal at the GTech Community Stadium, and Harrison’s potential contribution could further enhance Everton’s attacking options and overall performance. As Everton looks to build momentum and navigate a challenging season, Harrison’s return to first-team action is eagerly anticipated by both the club and its supporters.