James Tarkowski’s injury, sustained before the 3-3 draw between Everton and Sligo Rovers, is only “minor,” according to Sean Dyche.
The centre-back left the Toffees’ training camp early due to a glute injury, but the club is hopeful that the situation is not serious.
Tarkowski missed the match against Sligo, during which Youssef Chermiti scored two late goals to secure a draw at The Sean Fallon Centre on July 19.
Dyche told the Liverpool Echo on July 19, “At this stage, it is a minor situation. We are hopeful on that, and he seems okay with that. It is a precautionary thing. We have got a couple of others who we are just monitoring and they have come through it okay.”
Concerns about Tarkowski’s absence were mitigated by Mason Holgate’s performance, as he scored Everton’s first goal before Chermiti’s late efforts.
Tarkowski formed a crucial partnership last season, contributing to 13 Premier League clean sheets and playing all 38 league matches, helping Everton avoid relegation. Losing him at the start of the 2024/25 season would be significant, especially with Jarrad Branthwaite linked to a summer move.
Everton hopes Branthwaite will be ready to rejoin the squad soon, easing the preseason if Tarkowski needs more time to recover.
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