Everton boss Sean Dyche says promoted sides such as Town can’t be taken for granted ahead of the Toffees’ visit to Portman Road on Saturday afternoon.

The Merseysiders are 16th, one place and one point above the Blues having won one, drawn two and lost four of their first seven games.

On their travels, they have lost two - 4-0 at Spurs and 3-2 at Aston Villa - and drawn one, 1-1 at Leicester.

Prior to the international break, they drew 0-0 at home to Newcastle, their first Premier League clean sheet of the season, and Dyche says his side are becoming a more solid outfit.

“We’re showing signs of it – and I think more so in the last game,” he said at his pre-match press conference.

“And by no means were we as good as we’ve been in other games, and there’s still work to be done in those performances.

“But we showed that resilience, keeping a clean sheet. We got a lot of the basics right to keep a good side at bay and get a result.

“If we can get the details right at both ends and perform properly and appropriately, then I believe we can win games.”

Everton are unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches against promoted clubs having won three and drawn two, while Town continue to look for their first win of the season, but Dyche won’t be taking the Blues lightly.

“You can’t take these teams for granted,” he said. “Ipswich are full of endeavour, like teams are when they come up.

“They’ve spent a small fortune – or a recognised fortune – in this level of football for a club who’ve just come up. So, they’re obviously intent on being in the division.

“There are no gimmes. I’ve spoken to bigger managers who’ve done a lot more in the game than me, and they said, ’You can’t take anything for granted. You just can’t. You have to be right in every game'.

“They did terrific last season. And brought a lot of different players in, adding to it financially, which is not easy for clubs coming up.

“I know the guys there pretty well and I think they’re good operators. They’re learning as they go. The last time out was a tough one. That can happen in the Premier League.

“But from what I’ve seen so far, they’re full of endeavour and full of belief to take it on. That’s what we’ve got to be ready for. “

Regarding injuries, he added: “First of all, [left-back Vitaliy] Mykolenko is looking good, so that's a good step in the right direction. [Right-back and club captain] Seamus [Coleman] is back in the group and he's had more or less the week [of training].

“[Centre-half] Jarrad [Branthwaite] is a bit behind them – he's been on the grass with us but he's a little bit behind them.

“We'll have to make a decision on [Branthwaite being involved against Ipswich] because he's only really had a couple of days of training with us.

“Last time he got through the game then got a minor injury but it cost him a few weeks so we've got to be careful with that one.

“We'll have to make a call, probably over the next 24 hours – but his injury is fine at the moment, it's just his training schedule [to consider].”

Midfielder Iliman Ndiaye picked up a knock while away with Senegal but is doing well, Dyche says.

“[It] settled down really quickly,” he continued. “It was one of them they had to be cautious with at first but it settled down and he was clear-minded.

“We spoke to him and he said he was clear to be involved in that second game. He's come back and he's trained today [Thursday], so we're hopeful on that one

“Patto [Nathan Patterson] is on his longer-term plan to getting back but he's looking fitter and sharper all of the time. He's not quite there yet but he's training all the time and, so far, he's coming through it clean, which is really important.”

Regarding midfielders Tim Iroegbunam and James Garner, he added: “Tim, unfortunately, has got a stress response from a bone in his foot, so he's going to be weeks, not days.

“We're disappointed because he's had a good start to the season after a good pre-season. He'll come back through it but we're not sure on the timescales.

“Jimmy is similar. He's got a back situation that we're just monitoring at the moment – it's settling down but we're not going to have anything too concrete until probably about a week or so, when we'll know more, when he responds to the treatment.”

Summer Town target Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti remain on their way back from knocks.

“Youssef has been incredibly unlucky – probably the most unlucky out of all of them with the oddest injury,” he added. “He's making good progress now. He's on the grass with the sport science team – and so is Broja.

“[Broja] is in front of Youssef with his comeback – he will need a games programme but he's working actively now and hopefully will cross over [to work with the main group] soon.”

Photo: Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Tractor_Boy_in_HK added 11:08 - Oct 18 I think the quote is taken out of context, but whatever... I didn't realise Everton had so many players injured. Good time to play them - and get our first win!
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Linkboy13 added 11:23 - Oct 18 If we are getting to win this game we have to show the same spirit and work rate we did against Villa not the gutless performance we put in against the spammers. Although Everton have been struggling in recent seasons they have players with Premier league experience and ability and if we are not at our best the out come will be the same as the West ham game. I expect changes maybe three or even four. I don't think the defence have confidence in Muric and i would bring back Walton and the O'shea, Greaves partnership hasn't worked the latter looking better alongside Wolfenden. I think we could see a team resembling much of last season's line up.

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Ebantiass added 18:20 - Oct 18 I fear missing our best rightback could cause problems for us, Evertons best player in my opinion is their left winger and if they attack our weaker right back (Johnson) it might give them a boost. I can see many goals in this one. I quite like Dyche
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