Frank Lampard hopeful Abdoulaye Doucoure will return for Everton v Man City
Frank Lampard has revealed that Abdoulaye Doucoure ‘might be close’ to returning to the Everton midfield for next week’s clash against Manchester City.
Doucoure hasn’t played for the Toffees since injuring his hamstring during the 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa a month ago, but was seen back in training last week at Finch Farm.
After Everton suffered yet another defeat away from home against Southampton on Saturday, and Lampard confirmed that injuries are a cause for concern but he is hopeful Doucoure’s imminent return will give him more options.
“Doucoure might be close to being fit for the game, and that will give me different midfield option,” he said. “We weren’t good enough in midfield today. That’s the job for us in the week to get right.”
Everton’s next game comes against Man City at Goodison Park on Saturday, where Lampard will be hopeful he can maintain the team’s good home form under him to try and get out of their relegation battle.
Options
At home the Blues have been able to find the perfect balance to get the crowd on their side and create chances at a high enough rate to convert.
Away from home though, the team have struggled to create and even worse struggled to prevent the team from conceding chances costing them vital points in winnable games.
Doucoure’s reintroduction to the team should add some defensive balance to the team, but also legs in midfield – something they seem to lack away from home.
His box-to-box capabilities have been sorely missed and Lampard could look to use him in a similar way to how he used N’Golo Kante at Chelsea in a ball winning capacity.
Alongside Allan, Donny Van de Beek and Andre Gomes, Lampard will finally have options on how to play and that will be needed to turn the Toffees’ fortunes around ahead of the run-in.
In other Everton news, Everton want to sign Chelsea ace this summer, Lampard already made contact – report