Exclusive: Campbell claims Everton will struggle with ‘unsung’ Doucoure sidelined
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Kevin Campbell insists Everton will badly miss Abdoulaye Doucoure with the midfielder ruled out for at least the next two games.
After Monday’s loss to Chelsea, Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Doucoure would be out until after the international break with an injury.
The former Watford man has been integral this season and we missed him on Monday while Campbell insists the midfielder will be a huge miss while sidelined.
“He’s been first class,” Campbell told Goodison News after the Chelsea game on Monday.
“When a player who is prominent isn’t there any more, you really see it on the pitch. He does a lot of unsung work with Allan, retiring and covering the back four.
“When that’s not there, Everton miss him.”
The Frenchman has two goals and three assists in 25 Premier League appearances this season but it is defensive work that impresses fans.
As Campbell stated, Doucoure is brilliant at covering the defence and he works very well with Allan in that regard.
We don’t have a player who can come in and provide that same quality even though Tom Davies is having a great season.
Davies excels in other areas so he won’t be able to help out Allan who may be given even more defensive responsibility in Doucoure’s absence.
We should be able to manage without Doucoure against Burnley but our FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City just got even harder.
Whoever replaces Doucoure in that match has their work cut out but frankly, we’re just glad the midfielder isn’t out for longer.
In other Everton news, the Blues have been handed a major injury boost with Yerry Mina having been spotted back in training.