Rafa Benitez confirms Everton defender Lucas Digne won’t play v Chelsea
Rafa Benitez has confirmed that Everton defender Lucas Digne won’t feature against Chelsea on Thursday.
The Toffees defender was left out of the previous two matchday squads, and he won’t feature in the upcoming Premier League clash either.
Everton will be without Richarlison, Andros Townsend and Seamus Coleman for this game.
Benitez has revealed that Digne himself has told him that he won’t be playing due to illness.
“I cannot agree more. Lucas Digne is a good player, an important player for us. Yesterday we did a training session where he was in the 11 starters, today he said he’s ill and he’s not available for tomorrow,” said the Spaniard, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.
U-turn?
For the past few weeks, it has been speculated that Digne has fallen out with Benitez.
Ben Godfrey was used in the left-back role, while Digne was left out.
However, Benitez has made a sudden u-turn, saying that the French defender is an “important” player for the club.
Digne has been brilliant for the Toffees since joining from Barcelona, with the Liverpool Echo hailing him as an “elite” player.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for the left-back, but Benitez should try to re-integrate him into the squad, despite the fact he hasn’t been at his best so far.
It’s a crucial game for the Toffees who will be looking to shake off their disappointment of a 3-1 defeat against Crystal Palace with a strong performance against the Blues.
However, the injury crisis doesn’t seem to end anytime soon.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is yet to return to match fitness, while a host of key players are missing for Benitez. However, Allan is back, and he is set to start against the Blues.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are plotting January loan-to-buy bid for centre-mid hailed by Jack Grealish last month.
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