Sean Dyche offers update on Neal Maupay's Everton future after ugly row with fans

Everton will be hoping that a clash with Doncaster in the Carabao Cup can reignite their campaign, mirroring last season's turnaround.

The Toffees suffered three consecutive Premier League defeats last year, conceding six goals without any return, before a 2-1 comeback victory over Doncaster sparked their season into life.

As they gear up to face Grant McCann's team at Goodison Park this midweek, Everton find themselves in a similar predicament, having lost their opening two Premier League matches and conceded seven goals without scoring.

Supporters are expressing their discontent, with Neal Maupay and Mason Holgate bearing the brunt of fan fury as they travelled home from their defeat at Tottenham on Saturday night.

The ongoing takeover saga continues to cast a shadow over the club, with American entrepreneur John Textor being the latest individual granted an exclusivity period to negotiate the purchase of Farhad Moshiri's controlling stake.

With the move to their new Bramley Dock Stadium scheduled for next summer, the club, who have been a top-flight fixture since 1954, are desperate to avoid playing Championship football in their new home.

On the pitch, Everton are struggling, with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, one of last season's standout performers, making a costly error in the defeat to Spurs.

Their defence, which was among the best in the Premier League last term, is leaking goals, and the absence of England centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, currently recovering from groin surgery, is keenly felt.

Their attacking trio - Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Iliman Ndiaye and Beto - are also failing to hit the mark. Calvert-Lewin's form has been inconsistent, with a 23-game goal drought last season despite netting eight crucial league goals.

His last goal came on May 3 and his future at Everton remains uncertain as Friday's transfer deadline looms, with no agreement on new terms despite being in the final year of his contract.

Maupay's most recent appearance for the Blues was against Doncaster last year following a loan spell at Brentford. The £20million striker has managed just one goal in 32 appearances for the Merseyside club.

Everton manager Sean Dyche appears to have little faith in Maupay and has conceded that he could depart before Friday. This comes after the Blues rejected a loan offer from Marseille due to the lack of an obligation to buy clause for the French player.

"He's had a real tough run at Everton Football Club," admitted Dyche. "They know that, he knows that, so we'll have to wait and see if something new comes for him or if he can stay here and see what he can give us."

Goal scoring is a significant problem for Everton, and Dyche believes finding a consistent scorer is the toughest challenge in football, particularly when funds are limited.

"People say 'what are you going to do about it? '," he said. "Arsene Wenger used to say this, 'your job is to look after the back, the middle and the sides of the pitch, the chairman looks after the box'.

"Quite profound words and when you think about it, we all know what he means. That's the challenge."

"If it was that easy, he would have been developing centre-forwards left, right and centre, but he was generally buying them.

"Everyone says 'why don't you get a striker in?', well go and find one and we'll get them in, especially one for not a lot of money. All the best with that, that is a task, trust me! I've been at it for years."

The cavalry in the form of James Garner, Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman should be back for Bournemouth on Saturday and Dyche has challenged his fringe players to make a point against Doncaster.

"I want to see good performances," he said. "People laying down markers. If they haven't been playing, they've got to lay down a marker and make sure they're playing on Saturday."