Paul Joyce has revealed an injury update on Abdoulaye Doucoure which many Everton fans were dreading.
Taking to Twitter this morning, The Times journalist confirmed that the Goodison Park club are ‘concerned’ that the former Watford ace is now ‘facing lengthy time out’ with a ‘broken foot’.
At 1pm, Everton published a tweet on their official Twitter channel to verify the news, with a link to an accompanying club website post which 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.”
Ranked as the Toffees’ second-best player behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the Premier League so far this season with an average rating of 7.3 given by WhoScored, he has looked a player reborn under Rafa Benitez.
Doucoure ranks highly among his teammates in terms of average tackles (2.5), interceptions (1.1), clearances (1.4), shots (1.8), key passes (1.1) and dribbles (0.9) per game, and also has two goals and four assists from midfield (WhoScored).
Several Toffees supporters were dreading the worst when rumours surfaced earlier this morning, and Joyce and the club have subsequently put some authority to those initial fears.
Everton fans on Doucoure update
These Everton fans were left fuming as the injury update on Doucoure was shared on Twitter:
“Wow”
Credit: @KaneBurnett98
“Season over..”
Credit: @JstinR7
“Announce relegation”
Credit: @iphillips_efc
“Can’t have nice things us”
Credit: @JayWilson_97
“I can’t be bothered anymore”
Credit: @FPLupthetoffees
“Just cancel the whole football club, save the hassle”
Credit: @ItsOnlyJk
In other news, Everton could face a big decision over this ‘important’ player
