Phil Kirkbride provides update on Jean-Philippe Gbamin
The Liverpool Echo’s Phil Kirkbride has provided a positive fitness update on Everton’s Jean-Philippe Gbamin as he looks to return from injury.
Kirkbride claims that the 25-year-old is said to be feeling ‘very fit’ and will be back in pre-season training on Monday as Rafael Benitez prepares to take his first training session since he was appointed as the Toffees’ new manager.
Gbamin has had a nightmare on Merseyside as since he signed for the club in 2019; he has only managed to make three appearances after a succession of injuries.
Can Gbamin make an impact?
The Ivory Coast international has not had an opportunity to show exactly what he can do at Goodison Park, but a new manager and a good pre-season could finally allow Gbamin to show his skills.
In the season before he joined the Toffees, according to WhoScored, he averaged 1.6 tackles per game and won 1.7 aerial duels per game, which when compared with the whole Everton team in the 2020/21 season would have ranked him in joint-seventh place and sixth place [WhoScored].
So, he could really add some bite to that Everton midfield. However, you would think he is going to face some competition to get into Benitez’s side, given that the Spaniard favours a 4-2-3-1 formation and has the likes of Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure battling it out for those two spots in front of the back four [The Athletic].
So this pre-season is a big opportunity for Gbamin to kickstart his Everton career, and it is good to hear that he is fit and raring to go.
In other Everton news, 29-year-old Everton star to return to Finch Farm, amid doubts over his future.
Be sure to follow Goodison News on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on Everton and more exclusive interviews with Kevin Campbell.