View: Big Everton injury boost is ominous sign for PL rivals in European hunt
Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that his midfield enforcer Allan is back in training ahead of a return to first-team action for Everton this month.
The influential Brazilian has been absent since December 16 after picking up an injury in a 2-0 win at Leicester City, missing Everton’s subsequent ten matches.
Despite coping admirably without him, winning four of seven Premier League games, the Blues will be desperate to see him return to the base of midfield as they eye a charge for the European spots this season.
His return to training comes too soon for Saturday’s trip to Old Trafford, with Carlo Ancelotti revealing (via The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland on Twitter) that he will not be included in the squad to face Manchester United.
Despite this admission it is news that will be music to the ears of all Blues fans who have missed his all-action displays in the centre of the park.
Allan still leads the Premier League pack for defensive duels per 90 (11.48) according to Wyscout.
Furthermore, per fbref, of performers to play at least five 90s this season, only Oliver Burke (28.6) has made more pressures per 90 than Allan (27.1) as his importance to setting the tempo in the Everton midfield is laid bare.
He is not a limited player on the ball, though, as his passing statistics show.
With an 87.4% pass completion, only central defenders Michael Keane and Yerry Mina can top this and that has a lot to do with the more regular and simplistic offloads they do in less pressurised situations at the back.
In the absence of Allan the Blues had initially turned to Tom Davies but he has found himself out-of-favour of late, appearing just once in the last four games and he is a considerable downgrade on the man he replaces in all areas.
Andre Gomes has been preferred of late but he too is not cut out for the job and tends to slow the pace of the game down at times.
Tottenham Hotspur visit Goodison Park on Wednesday for the FA Cup fifth-round but this also looks like being too soon with the 30-year-old only just back in training on Friday.
Instead a clash at home to Fulham on Valentine’s Day looks like a much more realistic opportunity for Allan to feature and is the present most Blues fans will be yearning for.
Premier League midfielders won’t know what’s hit them when Allan announces himself back in true aggressive style.
In other Everton news, see our exclusive interview with Kevin Campbell on whether this Blues ace is ready for a regular run in the team.