Abdoulaye Doucoure injury latest as Sean Dyche shares new Everton fitness fear
Idrissa Gueye's condition is set to be assessed after initial concerns when he was withdrawn against Tottenham Hotspur. It comes with Abdoulaye Doucoure also expected to miss the upcoming match with Manchester City
Abdoulaye Doucoure is expected to miss Everton’s match with Manchester City while there is concern over an injury suffered by Idrissa Gueye.
Doucoure was withdrawn at half-time during the win over Burnley with a tight hamstring and then missed the Carabao Cup exit to Fulham and the battling defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. He is likely to resume training on the grass at Finch Farm this week but will initially work separately from the first team as part of his rehabilitation.
His midfield partner Gueye is also a doubt for Wednesday’s fixture after he was substituted in the early stages at Spurs. Sean Dyche said the initial view on his condition was “not promising” and work to establish the nature and extent of the issue is underway.
The injuries in the heart of Everton’s midfield come during a hectic festive fixture list but Dyche can at least take some comfort from the promising return to action of Andre Gomes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He replaced Gueye and impressed in his first appearance of a season so far ruined by injury. Dele is not expected to be available during this run of games as he continues his efforts to overcome injury, however.
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Doucoure has grown to be one of Dyche’s most important players and is the club’s top scorer of the campaign. His loss deprives his side of its most effective link between midfield and attack and his intense pressing has been key to Everton’s progress this season. His hamstring issue ruled him out of the Fulham and Spurs games and is expected to keep him out of at least the clash with City.
When asked whether he had a chance of being available soon, Dyche said: “No, I don’t think for City, that is a bit close. He is making good progress and we are hoping he gets back on the grass over the next few days - not straight away with us, just to ease his return to fitness.”
Dyche, who was previewing the City game on Saturday night, said he was more hopeful that Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman could be in contention for the squad but suggested there was genuine concern over the issue that forced Gueye off.
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He said: "[Young and Coleman] have probably got more of a chance of being around the squad but we are going to have to be careful because we keep getting players back fit and then we start running out again. And Idrissa has got an injury and it doesn’t look that promising on the first showing. We will find out more tomorrow and over the next couple of days.
"We are trying to balance the games programme against the squad against the injuries and the risk and reward of players coming in. Even with Andre, it wasn’t ideal for him to go on so early in the game. I thought he handled it very well physically but I had plans on maybe putting him into the game later but needs must at the moment.”