Lucas Digne may return from injury when Everton host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday after missing Monday’s loss at Wolves, in which Ben Godfrey produced an error-strewn display.
Rafa Benitez explained, via the Liverpool Echo, after the Molineux encounter that Digne did not feature after developing an issue. The Frenchman will undergo further assessments on the muscular problem that prevented him from featuring in the West Midlands.
Digne added to Benitez’s injury problems, with Everton also missing Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Yerry Mina and Abdoulaye Doucoure against Wolves. The Toffees are unlikely to welcome either of the trip back against Spurs in their first fixture under Antonio Conte.
Calvert-Lewin has not played since August 28 after suffering a setback in his recovery from a quadriceps injury. While Doucoure and Mina have both missed Everton’s last two Premier League games with foot and hamstring injuries respectively.
Benitez has no clear picture on when Calvert-Lewin, Doucoure or Mina will return, but may welcome Digne back on Sunday should he get through training unscathed this week.
“They are improving but still Doucoure, Yerry Mina and Dominic, we don’t know exactly how long,” Benitez said. “With Digne, we will see how he prepares. He was uncomfortable for this game, so didn’t play.”
Digne to return, Godfrey to fall out of Everton defence?
Digne returning from injury for Everton’s clash with Tottenham on Sunday may see Benitez bench Godfrey after his Wolves performance. The £77k-a-week centre-half struggled as a makeshift left-back, and gave away possession for Bruno Lage’s side to score their second.
Playing a defence-splitting pass between Mason Holgate and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who Raul Jimenez lobbed to find the net. With the Mexican gleefully gaining possession with a clear sight of goal.
Benitez will know Everton must show an improved defensive performance if they are to get a result against Tottenham. The Toffees have now conceded eight goals in their last three Premier League games to suffer three consecutive defeats.
Digne was not perfect against Watford in Everton’s 5-2 loss, either, as he struggled to cap the Hornets’ attacks. But showed solid defensive efforts at times while managing an early yellow card and pushed forward often. While Godfrey was often suspectable in the centre, to leave his place in Benitez’s plans at risk if changes are on the cards at the weekend.
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