Sean Dyche says Seamus Coleman’s “mindset is to keep playing” next season ahead of Saturday’s penultimate game of the Blues’ Premier League campaign.
Unbeaten in their past four matches – including three home victories – the Blues welcome Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon for a 3pm kick-off (BST).
The game represents Everton’s final outing at Goodison Park for 2023/24, and skipper Coleman – who joined the Toffees in January 2009 – is under a contract which expires this summer.
In his pre-match press conference, Dyche was asked whether Saturday could be Coleman’s final home match at Everton, but the Blues manager explained: “He’s been great, but it’s ongoing. I’ve already spoken to him about his view at this stage.
“There are another couple of weeks left, and I said, ‘Reflect on where you’re at,’ but I think his thirst is to keep playing, so we’ll be looking into that.
“I don’t think there’s any reason to wonder about his last game – or not at this stage – and certainly, that’s his words and not mine. He’s made it clear that, at this stage, his mindset is to keep playing.”
Asked if the Toffees right-back could take up a coaching role at Finch Farm once he finishes his playing career, Dyche added: “I think he’s learning to have that in him. He’s absorbed a lot from a lot of different experiences here.
“The good side of all the turnover of managers, is you can learn a lot from the varying input, the varying styles, and the varying ways of working. I think he’s like that, and I think he will absorb that. He certainly knows the Club like the back of his hand.”
For Saturday’s game, Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United arrive on Merseyside on a 12-match winless run, while Everton have triumphed in each of their past four home encounters, keeping consecutive clean sheets in wins over Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and Brentford.
Asked if the Toffees right-back could take up a coaching role at Finch Farm once he finishes his playing career, Dyche added: “I think he’s learning to have that in him. He’s absorbed a lot from a lot of different experiences here.
“The good side of all the turnover of managers, is you can learn a lot from the varying input, the varying styles, and the varying ways of working. I think he’s like that, and I think he will absorb that. He certainly knows the Club like the back of his hand.”
For Saturday’s game, Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United arrive on Merseyside on a 12-match winless run, while Everton have triumphed in each of their past four home encounters, keeping consecutive clean sheets in wins over Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and Brentford.
“You just have to focus on the players and remind them of the fact that, as mentioned earlier, the pride and consistency we have in our values as a group to go and perform.
“We want to give a performance; we want to win. Afterwards, it’’ll be the first time in a number of years we can have a walk around in a fashion that is rewarding for the players and the fans. I think that’s a nice sign-off for the players and the fans, and hopefully, do that on the back of a win, as well.
“It’s been a really strange season for many reasons, yet we end up with a positive feel to it, and certainly I do. But I think the players do and I think the fans do.”
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