The returning Abdoulaye Doucoure will address significant weaknesses in Frank Lampard’s Everton team.
That’s according to BBC radio pundit Noel Whelan, who was speaking to Football Insider.
The lowdown
Doucoure has missed each of Frank Lampard’s first four games in charge with a groin injury. Everton have won two of those – beating Brentford in the FA Cup and Leeds United in the Premier League – but they have also suffered two-goal defeats to Newcastle United and Southampton.
The Frenchman, who has been virtually ever-present when fit, is now closing in on a return to action. Lampard revealed prior to last weekend’s trip to St Mary’s that the club had reintegrated the 29-year-old into training, adding that he hoped to see ‘strong progression’ at Finch Farm ahead of the clash with reigning champions Manchester City on Saturday evening, for which the midfielder could be fit.
The latest
Whelan thinks that Doucoure’s physicality, as well as abilities in and out of possession, will greatly strengthen Everton midfield ahead of the visit of Pep Guardiola’s side, saying that the Frenchman’s return is a ‘welcome’ boost for Lampard in the wake of the defeat at St Mary’s.
The 47-year-old told Football Insider: “I think you need his presence in there. He brings real energy in that midfield and I think he will tick all the boxes for Lampard.
“He can break up the play, drive with the ball, as well as bring that real height and power they desperately need. We’ve seen him given that freedom to get into the box and cause problems as well this season.
“Every option will be a welcome one for Lampard right now. Doucoure’s return will be a brilliant boost for him.”
The verdict
Everton’s injury list isn’t looking pretty at the moment. They are without two senior centre-backs in Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina, in addition to central midfield duo Tom Davies and Fabian Delph, and winger Demarai Gray.
However, at last there seems to be positive news on that front for Lampard, with Doucoure potentially slotting into midfield alongside new signing Donny van de Beek against Man City after Allan and Andre Gomes came under fire for their displays last weekend.
Allan looked like an ‘imposter’, in the words of BBC’s Dave Downie, and tellingly, The Athletic’s Greg O’Keeffe said in light of Gomes’ performance that ‘Doucoure’s return can’t come quickly come enough’.
With the Frenchman being Everton’s third-best player this season according to WhoScored metrics, it’s hard not to feel that he has indeed been sorely missed in recent weeks.
In other news, Dean Jones names three players Lampard may want to sign for Everton