Everton remain hopeful that defender Lucas Digne will be fit to face West Ham United on Sunday after returning from international duty carrying an injury, per the Liverpool Echo.
The full-back withdrew from the France squad last week after sustaining a minor hamstring problem in training. Didier Deschamps had left Digne on the bench for Les Bleus’ Nations League semi-final win over Belgium, and was without him as they beat Spain in the final.
Everton’s medical team will put Digne through a late fitness test before hosting West Ham at Goodison Park on Sunday. It remains possible that the 28-year-old will be available for Toffees manager Rafa Benitez at home to David Moyes’ Hammers.
Digne has been a mainstay of Benitez’s plans since the Spaniard succeeded Carlo Ancelotti in charge at Everton this summer. The £119k-a-week left-back has played every minute so far of the Blues’ Premier League season over seven possible fixtures.
Benitez also handed Digne the captain’s armband in Everton’s last three top-flight games. So, he will no doubt rue being without the defender, if the 42-cap international’s injury prevents him from facing West Ham at the weekend.
Benitez will additionally be hopeful of having striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and right-back Seamus Coleman available soon. The pair began individual training sessions ahead of the international break as they recover from respective quadriceps and hamstring injuries.
Should Benitez risk Digne if Everton ace’s injury persists?
As much as Benitez will want to field Digne on Sunday, the Everton boss is unlikely to risk him aggravating the issue by facing West Ham if his fitness test is not entirely convincing.
Coleman’s absence has left the Blues’ short at the back, with Ben Godfrey having to stand in at right-back. A luxury Benitez does not have on the left, with no clear cover for Digne.
Benitez will likely rotate his system to accommodate for Digne’s absence if injury rules him out for Everton this weekend. But losing the Blues’ £18m signing will be a huge loss, given all he offers. As former boss Marco Silva noted during his time at the Goodison helm.
“Lucas has everything we expect from a professional football player,” Silva told EvertonTV. “Everything. And I am not just talking about his quality – everyone knows his quality. I decided last season he was one of my first targets after I met with the Club’s owner and our director of football, I did not have doubts about his quality.”
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