THAT’S RICH

Ancelotti backs Toffees to shine without top man

CARLO ANCELOTTI has told his Everton players it’s time to stand up and be counted… and end their hoodoo. The Toffees have never won a game when their talisman striker Richarlison has been absent – from the first day he arrived at the club in the summer of 2018. That sequence was continued in the 2- 0 loss at Southampton last weekend. And with the Brazilian banned for two more matches, after a Merseyside derby red card, the jinx could knock Everton off the summit heading into November. Boss Ancelotti said: “I know this statistic on Richarlison. “And I can say he is a really important player for us and the club and it is time to win to break this statistic. “It is the time, it really is. We have to think like this. Of course Richarlison is an important player. “But we have a possibility to replace him well. Maybe with a different characteristic, but with by DAVID MADDOCK good players, so we don’t have to be focused too much on the fact that Richarlison is not here. “We still have a good squad. And we’ll do our best.” The Blues are also without suspended left- back Lucas Digne. And Ancelotti also revealed James Rodriguez will miss the trip to Newcastle tomorrow with a problem he picked up in that bruising derby. The Italian added: “James played the game at Southampton but he had a little problem going into the game. He needs to rest.” That puts Everton down to the bare bones in their forward line with striker Moise Kean sent out on loan to Paris St- Germain, despite a lack of numbers up front. Many fans believe it is the last they will see of the Italy international. But Ancelotti is adamant he will come back to Goodison and return a stronger, better player. He said: “Yes he will be back with us – this is what the contract says. I think that we decided to allow him to go on loan to play more, but he has an opportunity to play and show his quality.” Ancelotti believes Everton can strengthen their position in the top four, with most of their rivals playing three times a week with European commitments. He added: “We can take advantage. But we did better when we had games every three days!”