Season › 2015-16 › News Galloway could be fit to face Chelsea Lyndon Lloyd , 9 September, 27comments | Jump to most recent (Jeff Holmes/Getty Images) In addition to new signings Aaron Lennon and Ramiro Funes Mori, Brendan Galloway is contention for the visit of the Champions on Saturday. The young defender has missed the last two matches with a knee injury sustained in the home game against Manchester City but he looks likely to be fully recovered by the weekend. The same can't be said for Bryan Oviedo who stepped into the starting XI at Barnsley and Tottenham but who has since picked up a knee complaint of his own that meant he did not play for Costa Rica over the international break. Talking to evertontv, Roberto Martinez has suggested that Funes Mori could also be deployed at left back but, while he doesn't acknowledge as much, the 24-year-old's lack of Premier League experience might give the manager pause before throwing him into a game against the likes of Jose Mourinho's men. Like Galloway, Funes Mori is primarily a centre half but can play at fullback as well. He played in his country's 7-0 win over Bolivia last weekend but was an unused substitute in their 2-2 draw with Mexico last night. Nevertheless, he will be one of the last players to return from international duty ahead of the resumption of domestic league play. James McCathy's knee will be assessed following his return from Euro2016 action with the Republic of Ireland but Martinez does not expect any major problems where the midfielder is concerned. He arrived at the Irish camp with a tendon problem but played against Georgia. His compatriot Darron Gibson has also returned to training following a lengthy absence. Meanwhile, Lennon looks likely to play a part against Chelsea after signing on a permanent basis on transfer deadline day. His lack of match sharpness may preclude him being named in the starting line-up but Martinez says he expects the winger "to be involved one way or another." As well as a potential switch at left back, the manager will be forced into a change in midfield to replace Tom Cleverley who is likely to be out until the middle of October with ligament damage sustained against Spurs in the last game. Reader Comments (27) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Dick Brady 1 Posted 09/09/2015 at 17:14:04 I hope Galloway is fit and can return. I like the look of Ramiro Funes Mori but he needs to adapt to the Premier League over a long period of development. Just throwing Ramiro Funes Mori in the deep end against the Champions would be unfair to the player. Minik Hansen 2 Posted 09/09/2015 at 18:06:53 Dick Brady, or maybe it's what Funes Mori wants and feeling comfortable coming in to the game - Argentinian international, Copa Libertadores winner and used to big grounds. COYB. Malc Kitchen 3 Posted 09/09/2015 at 18:07:11 Yeah Mori needs match fitness, I think we have a gem there! Galloway will probably start, hopefully Jerry and Mirallas on either wing! Getting good vibes about Leandro too, had real good game on Monday! Shame we didnt get a no.10, Martinez had plenty of time and choices (Mertens, Honda & Praet). James Stewart 4 Posted 09/09/2015 at 18:30:17 Galloway doesn't look like a left back to me and I would seriously think twice about playing him there against the top teams who will really target him. Funes Mori started his career as a LB so he should be used to the position but how we miss Baines and Garbutt! Patrick Murphy 6 Posted 09/09/2015 at 18:33:47 It's going back a bit and times have changed but a certain Kevin Ratcliffe made his debut at OT, Colin Harvey in the San Siro and whilst they were both youngsters at the time, surely somebody we paid good money for should be able to handle a packed and noisy Goodison Park for the visit of the Champions. Personally if I had the choice, I'd rather make my debut in that sort of environment than in a low key encounter in front of a relatively quieter crowd. Dave Abrahams 7 Posted 09/09/2015 at 18:56:53 If Mori is over his jet-lag, he should play, he's the best for that position until Oviedo or Baines returns to that slot. If Galloway is selected, he must have a winger in front of him to give him support, so that will rule Mirallas out. Steve Hogan 8 Posted 09/09/2015 at 19:08:41 Much as I think Galloway will be a real player of the future, I don't think a young player recently returned from injury, should be exposed to Hazard and Co... just a thought. Tom Bowers 9 Posted 09/09/2015 at 19:22:24 I suspect there will be some reshuffling due to some knocks and the Internationals. Whilst the Blues still haven't shown they can match the big boys yet, it may be a good time to stop a Chelski team who are oddly enough below them in the table.However, much depends on every player performing 100% and hopefully having no poor refereeing decisions especially where Diego Costa is concerned. That guy is a piece of work! Michael Winstanley 10 Posted 09/09/2015 at 21:30:11 Who will play in front of the left back? Mirallas, Barkley, Lennon, McGeady, Naismith, Osman or Pienaar?I can't see whoever plays left back is going to get an easy game. If he's fully fit then Galloway starts for me; he will relish the opportunity to play against the Champions. Hopefully he's been over aspects of his game whilst he's been out and, fingers crossed, he comes back a better player for it.When is Baines back? Ciaran Duff 11 Posted 09/09/2015 at 22:16:55 Apart from Mori never playing in EPL, he has basically had no time with his team mates even in training. Crazy to play him. Galloway for me in a 4-3-3 with Barry offering him some support on the left. Maxime Delbrouck 13 Posted 09/09/2015 at 23:51:14 I think the new guy should play instead of Gollaway. He knows Chelsea is no joke and if we give him this chance I'm pretty sure he'll play his heart out to prove his worth. COYB :) Abhishek Saha 14 Posted 10/09/2015 at 04:33:28 Ramiro Mori cannot play IMO. The last player to arrive from international duty, played there as well, no Premier League experience and take on a hurt Chelski first up. Too much risk involved and we need these 3 points or else we will be 3 games without a win at home. I would rather go with Galloway or even Browning with Barry providing some protection on the left.Lennon also I guess is not the right choice either, with no game time and facing Chelski straightaway. Having PL experience is one thing and facing Chelski is another. HowardColeman Stones Jagielka GallowayMcCarthy Barry Kone Barkley MirallasLukakuSub: Deulofeu for Kone. Rick Pattinson 15 Posted 10/09/2015 at 08:10:27 Throw Mori straight in. We can see what he's made of. If he can't run with the big boys then money wasted. He's on enough money to show his worth Dave Pritchard 16 Posted 10/09/2015 at 08:21:13 So Rick, if Mori has one bad game on his debut we instantly condemn him as a £9.5 million failure. Give me strength. Duncan McDine 17 Posted 10/09/2015 at 08:37:10 I personally think the left full back position has been our weakest point (in terms of the oppo attacking us) during the first 4 games, so I don't see any reason why Mori can't be thrown in there against Chelsea. As much as I like Galloway and Baby, I don't think the new lad could do any worse... Plus it would give us lot a chance to see what we've splashed all this cash on! Phil Sammon 18 Posted 10/09/2015 at 08:38:13 I don't get how anyone can think Mori should start. Has he even had a training session with the team yet?You can't just cobble a defence together on match day and hope it's solid. Andrew Ellams 19 Posted 10/09/2015 at 08:38:23 A lot of differing opinions on Mori here from people who have never seen him play and have no idea on his current physical condition.As good as Galloway is going to be, he looked out of his depth at full back against Man City, Mori certainly wouldn't be any more of a risk and given his experience playing in Argentina he is unlikely to be phased by the dirty tricks of Costa and Co. Dave Pritchard 20 Posted 10/09/2015 at 08:44:54 There is no easy answer to who will play at left back on Saturday. Galloway and Browning are inexperienced and out of position. Oviedo and Baines are injured. Barry will struggle for pace and Mori would be making his PL debut. Just as worrying is who will be left midfield to support our left back? Hope Roberto has a plan. Abhishek Saha 21 Posted 10/09/2015 at 10:41:41 Agree Dave, there's no answer without any risks attached to it. I guess these are the occasions which differentiate between good and legendary managers. Tom Bowers 22 Posted 10/09/2015 at 10:51:03 Just when you think the Blues may have a turnaround season the injury bug hits again and we are only 4 games in. Having started with a bunch of players out they now have Cleverly (8 weeks?) plus Oviedo and McCarthy doubtful for Sunday.Whilst there may be suitable replacements it's the continuity that a settled eleven (12 or 13) can bring that gives success. Alas, it hasn't happened at Everton for many years. Mike Childs 23 Posted 10/09/2015 at 11:45:04 I'll be very surprised if Lennon doesn't start. The only reason he hasn't been on board since the start is the board saving on 5 or 6 weeks of wages. Good ole board anything to save cash. James Martin 24 Posted 10/09/2015 at 11:59:23 Mike, as incompetent as the board are I really don't think saving wages is the case here. More likely Levy set a ridiculous price for a player in the final year of his contract and we waited for Dpurs to get in replacements do that we paid somewhere near his true market value. Ajay Gopal 25 Posted 10/09/2015 at 18:01:53 HowardColeman Jagielka Stones GallowayMcCarthy BarryBarkleyKone MirallasLukakuSubs: Robles, Browning, Mori, Besic, Deulofeu, Naismith, McAleny Ged Simpson 26 Posted 10/09/2015 at 18:24:48 Agree with it being Mirallas or Deulofeu. Helen Mallon 27 Posted 10/09/2015 at 18:52:29 What ever the team Martinez just has to deploy Besic to man Mark Hazard that's if he is not suspended after his red card. Harold Matthews 28 Posted 11/09/2015 at 10:25:39 Despite his dislike of turning anti-clockwise, I'd go for Galloway because he understands the Martinez system. Hopefully, Barry will operate in tandem with McCarthy and come across to help. The same goes for Jags.Mourinho will probably target Stones which might be a good thing. Our lad definitely performs best when he is kept busy. No time for penalty box strolls.I can't say much about Funes Mori because I don't know the lad but shoving him straight into our most exposed position might not be a good idea.On the plus side, we have the front-line speed to trouble their pedestrian defence and it should be an interesting encounter. Jim Lloyd 29 Posted 11/09/2015 at 11:38:39 I think young Brendan will be the best choice tomorrow. I'm sure Ramiro has the class but he surely needs to have some time with his team mates in training, so he has an idea of our way of playing.I don't think Brendan will be intimdated either by their front men. It's a shame Bainsey is injured but it's great experience for our young players and I don't think he'll let us down. 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