Ancelotti remains optimistic that Gbamin may feature this season
Carlo Ancelotti is optimistic that JP Gbamin will play for Everton this season, though he has downplayed that the midfielder’s return could be imminent.
The former Mainz midfielder was originally seen by Marco Silva as Idrissa Gana Gueye’s replacement at Goodison Park, having joined from the Bundesliga outfit for £25million [BBC Sport].
However the Ivory Coast made just two appearances before getting injured in August 2019, and unbelievably he hasn’t played since after a string of successive injuries have constantly kept him on the sidelines for the club.
Now though the 25-year old is nearing a return to fitness, and the Italian coach believes he will make an appearance for the Toffees before the season is concluded.
Speaking in his press conference on Friday [Liverpool Echo], Ancelotti said: “To play this season is realistic – not in the next few games, but before the end of the season, we hope he can play.
“We have no concerns [about his long-term fitness], it will take time.”
It’s about time…
It’s been so long since Gbamin was seen on a football pitch that we’d started to believe he had been a figment of our imagination.
Gbamin’s return would certainly add another dimension to Everton’s squad and provide the club with more depth, but most importantly it would be a huge burden off the player’s back.
Having moved to Merseyside at a prime age to succeed and with many plaudits in Germany, Gbamin must have been excitied for what was to come under Marco Silva.
However he barely had time to settle before his injury lay-off begun, and being on the sidelines for so long must have been extremely disheartening and frustrating for the player, while Everton must have also found themselves aggrieved at having spent significant transfer funds on someone who for a long time hasn’t been able to play any part.
It would be great to see Gbamin feature before the end of the season, but hopefully the Toffees are more concerned about his long-term ability to play.
If that means waiting until next season then we must have further patience.
In other Everton news, Ancelotti has encouraged Alex Iwobi to speak up about what his preferred position is.