Porto star Evandro aims for timely comeback with Hull City

Evandro in action for
Hull City against Liverpool. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson) — Evandro in action for Hull City against Liverpool. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)

EVANDRO, having played under Marco Silva at Portuguese minnows Estoril, is someone the Hull City head coach trusts implicitly.

The 30-year-old’s capture from Porto was a key one for the 39-year-old Tigers chief during a January transfer window in which he remodelled the squad more in his own image.

The three-game absence of Evandro, therefore, is one Silva could have done without but the City chief is hopeful that the play-maker can return to the fold this weekend against Everton.

“It has not been easy for us,” said Hull’s head coach. “He is an important player who arrived and made a very good impact in the team.

Hull City's Goebel Evandro during the Premier League match at Arsenal. (Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire).

“He is able to play differently to the other midfielders in our squad. He is an experienced player who also gives us important things with the ball. He brings a good spirit as well.

“He had one problem during the week before Arsenal and during the game. I hope we will have some news to give you (before Everton). It is not really serious, a small problem in the calf, but he has not been 100 per cent.”

Evandro’s return would be timely due to City being without last weekend’s match-winner, Oumar Niasse, under the terms of his loan switch from Goodison Park.

His absence restricts Silva’s options in attack, an area where Evandro made an impact during his seven appearances before suffering the injury at Arsenal on February 11.

Abel Hernandez seems certain to resume the lone frontman role he had for the opening hour or so of last weekend’s win over Swansea City before the Uruguayan was joined by Niasse.

Other likely absentees at Goodison Park in the final fixture before the Premier League shuts down for a fortnight include Michael Dawson (calf) and Markus Henriksen (shoulder).

Both are approaching a likely comeback date, but with a fortnight gap until City’s next fixture at home to West Ham United neither man will be risked by Silva against Ronald Koeman’s men.

Curtis Davies was on the bench against Swansea but the Hull chief is likely to stick with the same starting XI for a second consecutive week.

Striker Romelu Lukaku’s future at Everton has been thrown into doubt after he told the club he does not want to sign his new contract, despite the prospect of becoming the Toffees’ first £100,000-plus-a-week player.