Rafa Benitez: Jean-Philippe Gbamin fully fit ahead of Man Utd clash
Rafa Benitez has confirmed ahead of Saturday’s game between Everton and Manchester United that Jean-Philippe Gbamin is now fully fit.
The 26-year-old Ivory Coast international midfielder has not played since making his only appearance of the season against Huddersfield Town in the League Cup clash in August.
Gbamin returned to full training this week and is set to make the trip to Old Trafford at the weekend.
The Athletic journalist Patrick Boyland shared excerpts from the press conference of the Everton manager on his personal Twitter account on Friday afternoon, relaying his fitness news on the midfielder.
He said: “Gbamin “fully fit” according to Benitez.
“Good news because we needed bodies.”
Boost
Gbamin has played just four games for the Toffees since joining them from Mainz 05 in the summer of 2019.
A tooth abscess and a thigh problem ruled him out of action in recent weeks, but having him back ahead of the international break is a massive boost.
Everton need more players off the treatment table, and they would have fancied their chances of winning at Old Trafford more had the likes of Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin been available.
Gbamin played 95 games in three seasons for Mainz and was involved in 96 games in three campaigns with Lens.
Everything clearly went well before he joined Everton, and that is baffling.
Both club and player will be hoping that he has finally gotten over his injury woes, and Benitez could do with his quality in the middle of the park right now.
In other Everton news, Toffees duo have been spotted training alone at Finch Farm as midfielder completes injury comeback.
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