Everton manager Marco Silva welcomes the selection conundrum he is set to face as several first-team players come into contention.
Silva’s reign on Merseyside got off to a false start as he was left short of options due to a number of injury and suspension concerns.
The situation improves with each passing week and Silva confirmed deadline-day signings Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes, as well as long-term absentee James McCarthy, have all returned to full training.
None of the trio have featured this season but may be involved in some capacity as Everton bid for a third successive Premier League win when Crystal Palace travel to Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon.
Silva said: “For me as a coach and for all of us, it’s better when you have all the players available to play and to work here with strong competition between them.
“Everything looks different now, we hope we continue in this way because they’re getting fit, the competition is getting harder for them and it’s important for us.
“I want competition and I have to take the decision. When I have all of them available we will be stronger for sure and I will have more solutions to decide what will be our best XI for each match.
“We are looking more a team now, more compact, more solid in some moments, we keep focus for more minutes during the match.”
Mina adds to Silva’s enviable choices at centre-half as the Colombian seeks to dislodge the current first-choice pairing of Michael Keane and Kurt Zouma, with Phil Jagielka and Mason Holgate also eyeing starting berths.
Silva said: “(Keane and Zouma) are doing well, we are being more solid in the last games as well as a team, not just the two central defenders, but as a team.
“It’s important, not just Mina but Jagielka and Mason as well, they are our central defenders and they have to work hard to achieve what they want which is to play in our starting XI.
“It’s not easy in this moment, not easy for me but not easy for them to take the position, which is what I want.
“They did well but it’s better if (I decide) whether to play Mina or Jagielka or Mason or I keep with the other two.”
Mina and midfielder Gomes have yet to make their Toffees debuts following their moves from Barcelona because of respective foot and hamstring complaints.
McCarthy, meanwhile, has not featured since suffering a horrendous double leg break in the 1-0 win over West Brom in January.
Assessing their availability for the visit of Palace, Silva said: “It’s possible. Andre is working hard and well, he is completely fit, Mina (the) same situation and James as well.
“The injury to James is a little bit different. The other two are in good condition if I take the decision.”
Idrissa Gueye is a doubt after suffering an ankle issue while on Senegal duty during the international break.
Silva added: “We have one more day and Sunday to decide. It’s getting better and we have more hours to decide whether he’s in good condition or not.”
