Trevor Sinclair suggests Rice is a better midfielder than Doucoure
Abdoulaye Doucoure has been one of the best players at Everton this term, but Trevor Sinclair has suggested he is not as good as Declan Rice.
The Hammers narrowly edged out the Toffees at Goodison Park a fortnight ago, with the England international running the show in the middle of the park.
Doucoure, 28, picked up an injury in the game, and was hugely missed at the weekend as Watford thumped Everton 5-2 in front of their own fans.
Rafa Benitez is definitely gutted to be without the Frenchman at the moment, and while the Blues faithful will rate him above most midfielders in the English top-flight, Sinclair believes Rice is a level ahead.
The former West Ham star told talkSPORT (as shown on their official Twitter account on Tuesday morning): “Declan Rice, I want him to stay at West Ham. For me, he’s one of the best in the league at the moment. He’s got different strengths, but working with the ball, his passing range.
“I mean, he played against Everton and Abdoulaye Doucoure – who absolutely ruined Manchester United a week before – he left him in his shadow. Doucoure couldn’t get anywhere near him. With the ball, without the ball, he’s disciplined, organised. He’s 22.”
Debatable?
Doucoure is as important to Everton’s midfield as Rice is to West Ham’s, and while the youngster has continued to earn rave reviews, he is not head and shoulders above the Frenchman.
With four assists and two goals in eight league appearances to his name prior to getting injured, the Toffees star has been very crucial to his side in the final third, adding goals and assists to his name despite being a powerhouse in his side’s engine room.
Rice has two assists in nine Premier League games, and given his lack of cutting edge in front of goal, he definitely could learn one or two things about the art of finding the back of the net from Doucoure.
Both midfielders are top players and key to their respective sides, and while the West Ham star has established himself in the England national team, Doucoure would likely be a key player for Gareth Southgate’s side too if he was English.
In other Everton news, BBC cameras spotted Duncan Ferguson’s reaction to Watford’s fifth goal v Toffees.
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