Everton star Dominic Calvert-Lewin ruled out until mid-December
Rafa Benitez has issued injury updates on Everton stars Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucoure ahead of Sunday’s trip to Manchester City.
Calvert-Lewin, 24, has been out of action since August, playing just three times this season.
Doucoure, meanwhile, has missed their last three games after the 28-year-old sustained an injury in October.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium, Benitez has given a timeline on the duo’s expected returns.
“Each is different, they are getting better,” Benitez said via the club’s official YouTube account. “You have to be sure they are fine.
“Doucoure is a metatarsal, so the bone has to heal. One week, two weeks maximum he will be fine.
“Dominic, three weeks.”
Early Christmas gift
It sounds like there is an outside chance Doucoure will be back for the visit of Liverpool to Goodison Park on December 1.
That would be a big boost to the Blues who have missed his presence in midfield and surging runs beyond the forward line.
In his absence, Benitez has had to turn to the likes of Jean-Phillipe Gbamin, Tom Davies and Fabian Delph.
The Merseyside derby looks to come too soon for Calvert-Lewin, though, and three more weeks on the sidelines would make trips to Crystal Palace on December 12 or Chelsea on December 16 as much more realistic return games.
Everton also host Leicester City at home on December 19 to see out their pre-Christmas fixtures.
In the meantime, Salomon Rondon could be handed another opportunity to score his first Everton goal on Sunday, or Richarlison may be tasked with leading the line against Pep Guardiola’s side.
In other Everton news, Jim White has mooted a Goodison exit for this Blues star live on-air and suggested Farhad Moshiri’s stance on it.
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