Everton team news: Wayne Rooney and Leighton Baines left out of Europa League squad to face Lyon
Senior duo rested along with Phil Jagielka for Europa League trip to France
WAYNE ROONEY, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka have been rested for Everton's trip to Lyon.
And Ashley Williams admits the Toffees are hurting over the results that led to Ronald Koeman's sacking.
Williams has revealed how Everton’s Finch Farm training ground is “not a nice place to be”, with the struggling side suffering a confidence crisis.
The Toffees are in the Premier League’s drop zone with just two wins from ten games – losing 2-0 at Leicester last time out.
And tonight in the Europa League, David Unsworth’s men are effectively playing for pride, as they take on Lyon sitting bottom of Group E with just one point from three games.
Unsworth has opted to leave out a trio of veterans ahead of this Sunday's game with Watford.
Asked about Koeman’s axing last week, Williams, 33, said: “It hurts, definitely.
“He was someone we all liked and you feel responsible as a player. It’s disappointing for everyone.
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“It's not nice when you're not winning games and it affects everyone in the club.
“When you're in the training ground at times like that it's not always a nice place to be. Confidence is low.”
Everton’s caretaker boss Unsworth also accepts that confidence at the club has almost reached rock bottom.
But he has moved to defend the character of his players which has taken a battering in recent weeks.
Unsworth, 44, said: “You have got top senior players who have represented their country and played at the highest level for a long, long time.
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“Confidence affects every player. Anybody can be affected when you are playing in a team that is not winning.
“What we have got to do is get back to winning ways quickly.” Unsworth cknows his own chances of landing his dream job are fading fast.
He lost at Chelsea in the Carabao Cup last Wednesday, before that poor performance against the Foxes.
And while Unsworth will be given tonight in the Groupama Stadium and Sunday against Watford to state his case, it is likely to all be in vain.
The former Toffees full-back flew out to France with Sam Allardyce being heavily touted for the role he so craves.
Unsworth added: “I’ve not picked up a newspaper because I haven’t had time.
“I haven’t had time to look or see whoever has been linked because I haven’t had time to sleep in the last two weeks.
“Do I sense the next two games could be decisive? Probably.
“But that doesn’t scare me, because I know the game, and I know that in the end you’ve got to try and dig out some results.
“So I want to win this game and Sunday’s a massive game as well – it’s a cup final for me.”
Despite needing a win, Unsworth has left the experienced trio of Wayne Rooney, Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines at home.
The Toffees will be out of the Europa League if they lose here and group leaders Atalanta avoid defeat.
When Everton lost to Lyon at Goodison Park a fortnight ago, the match was marred by an ugly bust-up at the end, sparked by Williams barging into visiting keeper Anthony Lopes.
But asked about the reception he is likely to receive, Williams added: “In the last game it was a lot of nothing, emotions were running high, that happens, and you just get on with it.
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“I don't know what their reaction will be but I will just try and do my job as the best I can and try and win the game.
“I've been in football long enough to not let something like that affect me.”
Michael Keane, who is nursing a foot injury, is another player not to have travelled to France, as is James McCarthy (hamstring).
Oumar Niasse is ineligible as he was not included in the Toffees' squad for the group stage of this competition.
The travelling party does feature 18-year-old defender Morgan Feeney, who could make his senior debut.