Squad Strain in Blue: How Injuries, Suspensions and AFCON Have Undermined Everton’s Season
Everton’s 2025–26 campaign has been a roller-coaster of promise and frustration — with availability issues emerging as a central theme in the club’s struggles. A convergence of injuries, suspensions and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) absences has repeatedly weakened David Moyes’ options, undermining consistency and contributing to disappointing results across competitions.
One of the most glaring disruptions has been injuries to key squad members. Everton have had several influential first-team players sidelined for extended periods, leaving Moyes to constantly rejig his lineup. Midfielders and defenders such as Jarrad Branthwaite and Merlin Röhl have missed most of the season, restricting Moyes’ tactical flexibility, while captain Seamus Coleman has also been absent with a hamstring injury — depriving the team of leadership and defensive stability. Other concerns have involved Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish, both of whom missed matches with hamstring problems after struggling through recent fixtures. These injuries have forced Everton into makeshift line-ups and contributed to a general lack of rhythm across the squad. (ToffeeWeb)
In addition to injuries, suspensions have compounded Everton’s troubles. Notable figures such as Michael Keane and Jack Grealish were unavailable for cup matches due to disciplinary bans, weakening the side for key fixtures like the FA Cup third-round clash against Sunderland. In that game, the Toffees were without eight senior players between injuries and cups, a stark illustration of how player unavailability has stretched the squad to breaking point. (Royal Blue Mersey) Moreover, several other players in the squad have hovered close to suspension thresholds due to accumulated yellow cards — a situation that threatens further absence at crucial stages. (Goodison News)
Perhaps the most disruptive factor this winter, however, has been AFCON call-ups. The Africa Cup of Nations, running from late December into mid-January, has robbed Everton of two of their most influential performers: Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye. Both Senegal internationals have been central figures for Moyes — Ndiaye providing goals and attacking momentum, and Gueye offering midfield balance and experience. Losing them for several matches in the midst of a congested schedule inevitably weakened Everton’s competitive edge. Opta analysis of Premier League AFCON impact ranked Everton among the clubs most affected, with both absentees featuring regularly in key metrics like goal contributions and creative involvement. (Opta Analyst)
The absence of these players during the festive and early January fixtures correlated with a notable dip in performance. With their attacking output curtailed, Everton endured draws and such frustrating results as the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, and even exited the FA Cup to lower-league opposition — a loss that David Moyes admitted was shaped in part by his injury-depleted squad. (evertonfc.com)
Moyes has spoken publicly about trying to manage the situation by giving opportunities to squad players and youth prospects, and while some like Tyler Dibling have shown promise, the lack of experience and cohesion has stood out. (Sports News)
In summary, Everton’s season has been heavily impacted by the perfect storm of injuries, suspensions and international call-ups. These factors have disrupted team chemistry, forced tactical compromises and contributed to inconsistent results in league and cup competitions. Should key players return fit and available after AFCON and upcoming suspension windows, the Toffees will hope to regain momentum — but the absence of continuity has clearly been a barrier to their ambitions in 2025–26.
