Everton wingers Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil have both stepped up their recoveries from injury after lengthy lay-offs
Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil have returned to training. The key Everton pair have been out for substantial periods due to injury, their absence among the problems that have limited David Moyes’ options since he returned in January.
Ndiaye impressed in Moyes’ opening games, scoring in the wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion before limping off midway through the first half of the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. The medial ligament damage suffered that day has deprived Everton of one of their most potent attacking forces.
McNeil, meanwhile, is yet to feature under Moyes. The 25-year-old has not played since his starring role in the 4-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in December – the last win under previous boss Sean Dyche.
READ MORE: Everton transfers that could shape the summer as David Moyes finds new Declan RiceREAD MORE: Who is Nick Hammond? Transfer specialist set for Everton who once had Goodison nightmareMcNeil re-aggravated a knee issue first suffered in the draw with Fulham earlier in the season. His absence has been keenly felt by Moyes, who has bemoaned the lack of set-piece expertise in his squad.
Both players have now stepped up their comebacks and were pictured taking part in first-team training when the players resumed work at Finch Farm as the international break came to an end.
Also pictured was Armando Broja, who moved closer to match fitness after starting Albania’s win over Andorra this week.
While Ndiaye and McNeil will both require patience, and Vitalii Mykolenko picked up a thigh injury with Ukraine over the break, Moyes is the closest he has been to a full-strength Everton squad, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin the last remaining long-term injury yet to make it back to first team training.
