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Everton Mind Games Mean Rodriguez May Play Against Saints

Earlier in the week Saints supporters were relived to hear that James Rodriguez would be missing after picking up an injury against Liverool, but now it seems that Ralph Hasenhuttl is not the only one that likes to keep opponents guessing and that Carlo Ancelotti likes to play them too.

As I mentioned earlier in the week, Calvert-Lewin has been getting all the headlines as Everton get off to their best start in the league since the Beatles were still together, but it has been James Rodriguez calling all the shots, so the news that he had not been training all week was very welcome.

But in his press conference yesterday Carlo Ancelotti told the assembled hacks that the Columbian had "partially" trained on Friday and could be in contention for the trip to St Mary's.

That is bad news for Saints, but the hope is that if he plays he will not be 100% fit and sometimes playing even your best player when he is not fit can backfire.

The Everton manager also confirmed that he would not be dropping Jordan Pickford for the game, although that could be good news for Saints supporters as the keeper is clearly not in great form and his decesion making is shot to pieces.

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