Rafa Benitez: Richarlison could start for Everton v Wolves
Rafa Benitez suggests Richarlison is in contention to start for Everton on Monday as they make the trip to face Wolves.
Richarlison, 24, has not been named in the Everton starting XI since the 3-1 win over Burnley on September 13, owing to injury.
However, he returned to the side last weekend, scoring off the bench in a 5-2 defeat to Watford, and Benitez told reporters at his Friday press conference [Everton YouTube account] that the Brazilian is nearing a first start for more than a month.
“He is getting better, he’s been training well during the week,” Benitez said. “Still we have a couple of training sessions so we will see how much he improves but in terms of the mentality, yes.
“In terms of his fitness he will not be 100% but he’s getting better so I have confidence that maybe he can start, confidence that for sure he will give us something.”
Benitez also offered an update on French midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure.
“Doucoure is getting better, it seems he is progressing well,” he said. “I cannot say how long exactly, at least a couple of weeks. Hopefully, after the international break, he will be fine.”
Big Blues boost
Richarlison is the figurehead in the Blues attack at the moment, particularly without centre-forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who remains absent through injury.
That much was evident last weekend against Watford as it took Richarlison just three minutes to make a huge impact, scoring against his former club.
Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend have made impressive contributions since joining the Blues in the summer, but Richarlison is the one who tends to set the tempo and has that real star quality.
He offers a real physical presence while still being able to stretch teams with his pace.
Salomon Rondon may have the former, but he certainly does not possess the latter trait, and his struggles in a blue shirt have been laid bare for all to see.
Perhaps it is time to take him out of the firing line, and start Richarlison as a striker against Wolves.
In other Everton news, the Blues have made contact over this striker that Pep Guardiola called ‘Incredible’, and a January transfer is on the cards.
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