Everton v Yeovil preview: Romelu Lukaku set for start
Tuesday 23 August 2016 20:26, UK
Romelu Lukaku is set to lead the line for Everton in the EFL Cup against Yeovil at Goodison Park, on Tuesday.
Lukaku made his first appearance of the season after a heel injury as a substitute against West Brom on Saturday, and is now set to start in attack against Yeovil.
New Everton signings Ashley Williams and Yannick Bolasie are set for their full debuts in the EFL Cup.
The pair came off the bench in Saturday's win at The Hawthorns, but are to be given a chance to impress from the start against the League Two side.
"For them, it's really important to have game time," said Ronald Koeman. "In the case of Ashley, he did not play a friendly (in pre-season). It will be a very good occasion for him to start playing and to get in that rhythm of the games.
"Bolasie also is a new player and he will start tomorrow. It's the same situation for Romelu because he has not played a lot before.
"Of course, he played the friendly against Espanyol but after that he was 10 days out of training. He needs game time to get in his best shape."
Aside from that trio, Koeman plans to keep changes down to a minimum.
The Dutchman wants his players to start building some momentum and feels it is more important to keep them together rather than fracture the side by bringing in fringe players.
"You see a lot of the time there are a lot of changes in most of the teams," he added. "On one side I can understand it because it gives opportunities to players who are not normally involved.
"Of course, if you play in Europe it means there is a very tough programme which you have.
"In our situation, we don't play in Europe. I'm a new manager in a new club and we are trying to change things and do things in a different way than they used to be.
"Some players will get a rest but I won't change eight or nine positions because I don't believe that's the best way to win something."
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This will be the first meeting of any kind between these two sides.
Since beating Sunderland in the 1949 FA Cup fourth round, Yeovil have lost all 12 of their meetings with top flight opposition in all competitions.
Everton have progressed from 15 of their last 17 League Cup ties against lower tiered opposition, losing out only to Brentford in 2010-11 and Leeds in 2012-13.
The Glovers have never progressed past the second round of the League Cup.
