Everton predicted startling line-up vs. Sunderland: Four changes made with Grealish and Keane among eight out

Everton will hope to put a recent run of rough form behind them in the FA Cup this weekend but the draw was not kind to the Toffees, pitting them against high-flying Sunderland – and to make life even more difficult, David Moyes will have to make do without several key first-team players.

Injuries mean that the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jarrad Branthwaite and Charly Alcaraz are all either out or doubts, while Jack Grealish and Michael Keane will now also miss out due to suspension.

With as many as eight players liable to miss the match against Sunderland, we’ve collected all of the latest Everton team news below along with our prediction for Moyes’ starting XI ahead of Saturday’s game.

Could Dewsbury-Hall, Branthwaite or Alcaraz be back for Everton in the FA Cup?

David Moyes has kept his cards close to his chest over the progress of his injured players in recent weeks, but there is growing optimism that several key players, including attacking midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, could return in the near future.

Dewsbury-Hall was said to be “doing well” prior to the 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers in midweek but is considered unlikely to be ready to play this weekend following a hamstring injury which he sustained against his former club Chelsea in December. The Premier League match against Aston Villa next weekend appears to be a more realistic target as it stands.

Centre-half Jarrad Branthwaite, meanwhile, is back in training following a lengthy lay-off due to a hamstring injury of his own, with Moyes recently telling the media that the 23-year-old is “getting close” to making his comeback – although that is still not expected to take place until nearer the end of January. There’s less clarity, meanwhile, on the status of Charly Alcaraz, who has missed the last three matches with an undisclosed fitness problem. There is no word on whether or not he might be involved this weekend.

The fourth and final player who is expected to miss out through injury is veteran full-back Séamus Coleman. The Irishman is dealing with a hamstring injury which recent media reports suggest will sideline him until the end of January at least.

Jack Grealish & Michael Keane among four more missing against Sunderland

Everton’s options will be further depleted by the absence of both Michael Keane and Jack Grealish following their red cards against Wolves on Wednesday evening. Grealish will be back to face Aston Villa next week after picking up a pair of bookings, but Keane will be sidelined for longer.

The centre-back will collect a three-match suspension for pulling the hair of Wolves’ Tolu Arokodare during the midweek match, meaning he will miss the games against Sunderland, Aston Villa and Leeds United.

Everton will also have to get by without their two Senegalese internationals, Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye, with the pair set to compete in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday. Should Senegal lose to Mali, Ndiaye and Gueye will be available to face Aston Villa – progress to the semi-finals, however, and their return will be delayed by another week.

With so many players out for the FA Cup third round match against Sunderland, Moyes is likely to rotate his squad somewhat and give players such as Tyler Dibling and Merlin Röhl starts.

Predicted Everton starting XI vs. Sunderland: Pickford; Mykolenko, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Patterson; Iroegbunam, Röhl, Armstrong; Dibling, Beto, McNeil.