OWEN Coyle has no long-term injury concerns over Jussi Jaaskelainen but is set to stand by Adam Bogdan for this weekend’s cup clash with Macclesfield Town.
The Big Finn should sit out at Moss Rose, still nursing a thigh strain, but the Wanderers boss is confident he will return to contention for next weekend’s trip to Manchester United.
“Jussi had injured his thigh with one of the last kicks against Wolves, and he suffered a similar problem earlier in the season,” the manager said.
“I wouldn’t think he would be ready for Saturday, but then Adam Bogdan would probably play in the cup anyway.”
Coyle attributed no blame to Bogdan for Everton’s freak opening goal on Wednesday night, scored direct from Tim Howard’s wind-aided clearance.
The US international became only the fourth goalkeeper in Premier League history to score, following Peter Schmiechel (2001), Brad Friedel (2004) and Paul Robinson (2011).
But the Everton keeper, making his 250th appearance for the club, refused to celebrate, offering some words of sympathy for his opposite number.
“It’s not a nice place to be,” he said. “I’ve been there before – a long, long time ago – and that was why I didn’t celebrate.
“You could see everybody was mistiming balls. Defenders were missing clearances that normally they would put up the field.
“I think the wind is the hardest condition to play in.
“Snow, rain, sun doesn’t matter, but the wind really does play tricks on you.”
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