Jamie Carragher delivers ‘huge’ Abdoulaye Doucoure verdict as Everton star returns in Brentford defeat
Abdoulaye Doucoure’s return from injury is “huge’ for Everton, according to Jamie Carragher.
The Frenchman, 28, missed Everton’s previous four games before starting Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at the Brentford Community Stadium.
Speaking before Everton’s fifth loss in their last six matches, ex-Liverpool defender Carragher waxed lyrical of the midfielder.
“Doucoure’s had an excellent start to the season,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
Sky Sports host Dave Jones then asked: “How much of a bonus to have him back?”
Carragher: “Huge. I think he was the best player at Everton until he got his injury. He’s been given [a] license under Rafa Benitez that he maybe didn’t have before. One of the stand out things this season has been him breaking from midfield.”
Slow steps
Doucoure wasn’t at his imperious best on Sunday as Brentford beat the Blues in West London.
The Frenchman hadn’t played since the 1-0 loss to West Ham on October 17, so he was understandably rusty.
He did, however, play the full 90 minutes today [28/11/21] and made a crucial challenge to deny the Bees a clear one-on-one with Jordan Pickford in the first half.
It was exactly what has come to be expected of Doucoure this season – making himself a nuisance in both boxes.
He is one of the most complete midfielders in the Premier League, as evidenced in his tally of two goals and four assists in his first eight games, allied to his strong defensive work.
Everton don’t have long to prepare for their next match as they host Merseyside rivals Liverpool at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
Whether Doucoure is fit enough to start again remains to be seen, but one has to think he is a shoo-in to start unless there is a serious risk of another injury, such are the lack of options in central midfield.
In other Everton news, this big-name Blues trio scored 4/10 in our player ratings v Brentford.
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