Pre-season is always a delicate tightrope walk for football managers. It is a balancing act of building peak match fitness, integrating new summer signings, and avoiding the dreaded curse of early injuries before the grueling Premier League marathon begins. For Everton manager David Moyes, the opening match of the summer schedule highlighted exactly how fine those margins can be.
As the Toffees took to the pitch at Dens Park for their pre-season opener against Dundee, fans scanning the team sheet noticed a handful of massive first-team absences. Four key figures were entirely missing from the matchday squad, immediately sending the rumor mill into overdrive across social media.
To steady the ship, Everton’s communications team issued a clear squad update explaining the individual situations. While some absences are entirely planned—and even celebratory—a fresh fitness concern surrounding midfield star James Garner has given the medical staff some homework to look at over the coming days.
Let's dive deep into the details, analyze the severity of these squad absences, and look at how David Moyes is shaping his squad ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
The Big Concern: James Garner’s Sudden Groin Discomfort
The most pressing piece of news from the pre-season camp in Scotland centers around dynamic midfielder James Garner. The 25-year-old, who established himself as one of Everton's most consistent and reliable performers last season, was completely left out of the squad to face Dundee.
According to the official club statement, Garner felt sudden discomfort in his groin shortly after returning to high-intensity training sessions.
JAMES GARNER MEDICAL PROTOCOL
[ Initial Training Return ] ---> High-intensity fitness workloads
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[ Symptom Detection ] --------> Experiencing discomfort in the groin
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[ Precautionary Hold ] -------> Omitted from Dundee friendly match
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[ Next Phase ] --------------> Comprehensive medical review next week
Groin issues during early pre-season are notoriously tricky. When players transition rapidly from summer rest to the intense running drills required in training camps, the sudden workload can easily cause minor strains or flares.
The club has confirmed that Garner will undergo a comprehensive medical review next week to evaluate the extent of the issue. At this stage, his omission from the Dundee game is largely precautionary. With several weeks still remaining until the Premier League kicks off, Moyes and his backroom staff are rightfully refusing to take any unnecessary risks with a player who serves as a vital component of the midfield engine room.
The Silver Lining: Jarrad Branthwaite’s Systematic Recovery
While the Garner news caused minor anxiety, the update regarding star center-back Jarrad Branthwaite brought a collective sigh of relief to the blue half of Merseyside.
The towering 23-year-old defender endured a frustrating, stop-start campaign last year. He missed the first five months of the season following major hamstring surgery in October, returned in January, and was tragically stretchered off with a completely separate hamstring injury during the Merseyside derby in late April. The injury prematurely ended his season and dealt a blow to Everton's late pursuit of European qualification.
However, the current trajectory is highly encouraging:
Full Week of Training: Branthwaite has successfully completed the entire week of training alongside his teammates during the Scottish camp.
No Training Regression: The club explicitly stated that he "continues to make positive progress" as he works his way back from the hamstring injury.
Calculated Integration: His absence against Dundee wasn't a setback; it was a calculated tactical decision. The medical department is carefully managing his minutes, prioritizing long-term durability over early friendly appearances.
Having Branthwaite back on the training grass doing ball work and shuttle runs is a massive boost for Moyes. If his recovery continues without a hitch, he will anchor a formidable backline alongside veteran James Tarkowski and summer signing Jake O'Brien.
Explained Absences: Hackney, Mykolenko, and the World Cup Contingent
Beyond Garner and Branthwaite, a few other notable names were missing from the team sheet at Dens Park, each for very different reasons.
Hayden Hackney's Integration Plan
Everton's exciting summer midfield signing, Hayden Hackney, was another name missing from the matchday line-up. The former Middlesbrough man has arrived with high expectations, but the club is taking a very patient approach to his integration. The medical staff confirmed he has been successfully integrated into squad training all week, with his physical loads scheduled to step up significantly next week as part of a pre-planned conditioning program.
Vitalii Mykolenko's Personal Joy
Left-back Vitalii Mykolenko was absent for the most heartwarming reason possible. The Ukrainian international was granted compassionate leave to return home to be with his family for the birth of his second child. He is expected to rejoin the first-team squad in due course once his family commitments are settled.
The International Break Absentees
Finally, the squad numbers are naturally stretched thin due to the 2026 World Cup tournament cycle. Number one goalkeeper Jordan Pickford remains completely unavailable as he prepares for England's high-stakes World Cup third-place play-off against France. Meanwhile, attacking threats like Iliman Ndiaye and defender Nathan Patterson are still enjoying extended summer breaks following their respective group-stage exits with Senegal and Scotland.
THE PRE-SEASON ABSENCE MATRIX
[ James Garner ] -------> Groin Discomfort (Medical review next week)
[ Jarrad Branthwaite ] --> Hamstring Management (Positive progress)
[ Hayden Hackney ] -----> Training Integration (Pre-planned progression)
[ Vitalii Mykolenko ] ---> Family Leave (Birth of second child)
[ Jordan Pickford ] -----> International Duty (World Cup play-off)
Tactical Silver Linings: What David Moyes Can Learn
While missing four or five established starters isn't ideal for building team chemistry, it opens up a massive window of opportunity for fringe squad members and bright academy prospects.
With Pickford away, backup goalkeeper Mark Travers got a valuable opportunity to stake his claim between the sticks. Further up the pitch, the absences allowed David Moyes to take a very close look at exciting young talents like Tyler Dibling and Tyrique George on the wings, alongside young central midfielder Merlin Röhl.
Pre-season friendlies are rarely about the final scoreline; they are about collecting data, building cardiovascular endurance, and understanding squad depth. By keeping the senior stars protected, Everton ensure they are playing the long game.
Final Thoughts: Caution is the Best Strategy
Ultimately, Everton fans shouldn't push the panic button just yet. The medical staff at Finch Farm are demonstrating a high level of caution, which is exactly how a modern, elite football club should operate in July.
Managing Branthwaite’s return from a long-term injury layout, allowing Mykolenko time with his newborn, and protecting Garner the moment he feels minor groin tightness are all smart, long-term decisions. The true test begins in August, and ensuring the squad is fully healthy for matchday one is far more important than winning early friendlies in Scotland.
How do you feel about Everton's squad depth heading into the new campaign? Are you worried about James Garner's groin update, or do you think the medical team is right to be extra cautious? Let us know your thoughts and tactical predictions in the comments section below, and share this update with your fellow Toffees!