Everton are still waiting to see one of their summer additions make his first appearance for the club after the £7m move from Arsenal. His absence has already forced David Moyes to adjust his midfield plans, with the manager having to rely on alternative options during the opening weeks of the campaign. Now, there is growing attention on when the experienced midfielder could finally return, with a specific fixture being lined up as a potential comeback date.
Christian Norgaard arrived at Goodison Park carrying the reputation of a midfielder who has established himself through years of consistent Premier League performances. Everton supporters were looking forward to seeing the 32-year-old bring his experience, energy and organisation to the centre of the pitch.
Instead, Norgaard has watched the opening part of the campaign from the sidelines.
That was not something Moyes had planned for when the midfielder was brought in. The Everton boss previously admitted that he had not expected Norgaard to miss the opening tranche of fixtures, highlighting how his absence has forced the manager to reconsider some of his midfield plans.
With his summer signing unavailable, Moyes has had to rely on the other midfield options within his squad and adjust his selections accordingly. The Liverpool Echo report on the situation underlines just how important Norgaard was expected to be to the manager’s early-season plans.
Hull City Return Date and Everton’s Attacking Shortage
There is now greater clarity surrounding when Everton fans could finally see Norgaard pull on the blue shirt competitively. The midfielder is being targeted for a return against Hull City next month, giving Moyes a specific date to work towards as he continues to manage his squad.
His potential comeback comes at a time when Everton are also dealing with limitations in attack. Beto departed for Fiorentina during the transfer window, while a deadline-day move for Folarin Balogun collapsed at the final stage. As a result, Thierno Barry entered the season as Everton’s only senior recognised forward.
That leaves Moyes with little room for error when it comes to injuries. Any additional problem in the attacking department could put even more pressure on the squad and reduce the manager’s available options before the Hull City fixture arrives.
Carabao Cup Heroics and Utility Shifts Offer Solutions
Despite those difficulties, Moyes has already shown that he is prepared to find solutions from the players available to him. Charly Alcaraz provided a perfect example in the Carabao Cup, scoring the decisive goal against Wolves and demonstrating the kind of attacking quality that can ease some of the pressure on the squad.
Merlin Rohl has meanwhile provided a different type of answer through his versatility. Having spent the end of last season operating on the right wing, Rohl started the new campaign at right back as Moyes attempted to cover another area of the squad.
His own recent injury has since interrupted that run, but his positional switch nevertheless illustrates the lengths Moyes has been willing to go to when dealing with gaps in his squad.
Alcaraz’s cup-winning contribution and Rohl’s ability to operate in different positions have given Everton temporary solutions without requiring another move into the transfer market. Those adjustments have helped the club navigate the early stages of the campaign while the Christian Norgaard Everton return remains something supporters continue to wait for.
Managing Depth at Hill Dickinson Stadium Moving Forward
The situation at Hill Dickinson Stadium highlights how stretched Everton’s squad has become in several areas. Moyes is attempting to deal with a genuine Moyes’ squad depth problem, with just one senior recognised striker, an unavailable midfield signing and the need to use players in unfamiliar positions.
Moyes’ willingness to adapt has helped Everton cope with those difficulties so far. At times, that has meant giving Alcaraz greater responsibility in