October 19, (THEWILL) – Everton are concerned that midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure will be sidelined for a long time after suffering a foot fracture.
Scans revealed that the 28-year-old has damaged a metatarsal, which is a major setback for Rafa Benitez’s side. Although an exact timeframe has yet to be confirmed, Doucoure is expected to be unavailable for the foreseeable future.
The statement from the Toffees on Tuesday read: “Everton can confirm that Abdoulaye Doucoure has suffered a stress response in a bone in his foot sustained during Sunday’s match against West Ham United.
“The French midfielder is being assessed by the Club’s medical team at USM Finch Farm and is undergoing further investigation to determine the full extent of the injury.”
This is not the first time Doucoure has been sidelined. He did, in fact, miss the final months of last season due to a similar issue. Everton struggled to pick up points during his absence, highlighting his impact on the team. Benitez will be hoping for a different outcome this time.
Doucoure joins a long list of injured players that includes Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison, Andre Gomes, and Fabian Delph. But, this is a major setback for the Toffees. In the early part of the season, Doucoure shone, taking advantage of Benitez’s extra freedom.
He is mobile enough to make an impact on both ends of the field, and he has already scored two goals and added four assists. His performance has earned him inclusion in the list of standout players in the Premier League so far this season.
In reality, Everton will have a hard time finding replacements that match Doucoure’s performance and significant impact this season.
Benitez may decide to take a completely different approach, packing the defence or adding another ball winner in midfield. Tom Davies and Fabian Delph, both fringe players, could benefit if he takes that route.
Jean-Philippe Gbamin and youngster Tyler Onyango are arguably the best fits in terms of looking to replicate Doucoure’s attributes and specific role.
Onyango, an athletic 18-year-old midfielder, returned from a six-month layoff in Everton’s Under-23 side’s 4-2 win over Leeds on Monday evening. He has a bright future ahead of him, but he will need to be managed carefully due to his own fitness issues.
Everton had already been dealing with a slew of injuries prior to this latest setback. Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison both missed the 1-0 loss to West Ham at home, with Salomon Rondon filling in at the front.
Their centre-back Yerry Mina, after returning from international duty, was only fit enough to make the bench, while midfielders Gomes and Delph were also absent.
Everton are hoping to welcome back Richarlison soon, with Benitez revealing after the game that the Brazilian was “closer” to returning than Calvert-Lewin.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
