Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi out for up to three weeks with ankle injury
Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi is expected to remain sidelined for “around three weeks” after picking up an ankle injury against Manchester United in the FA Cup, the club confirmed.
The 26-year-old was involved in a nasty clash with United full-back Tyrell Malacia on Friday evening (6 January) as Everton fell to a 3-1 loss in the third round of the FA Cup.
The Toffees ace has been a mainstay in Frank Lampard’s side so far this season and has been a transformed player since moving from a right-winger into a central midfield role.
Iwobi left the stadium on crutches, and it has now been confirmed that he has sustained an “ankle ligament injury”.
Everton’s official Twitter account said: “Alex Iwobi is expected to be out for around three weeks with the ankle ligament injury sustained against Manchester United on Friday.”
Big blow
With a crunch clash against Southampton quickly dawning on the horizon (Saturday 14 January), Lampard’s worst fears have been met, as Iwobi won’t be available for selection in this crucial encounter.
The midfielder will also likely miss further Premier League matches against West Ham, Arsenal and possibly Liverpool at a pivotal moment in the season.
The 58-capped Nigerian international has been one of the Toffees’ bright sparks in an underwhelming season, having registered five assists already this season from the middle of the park.
He brings an energy and passion to Lampard’s side that few others can match, and his dribbling ability from deep areas helps the team emerge from their low block when facing top-quality opponents.
How the club look to fill the void left by Iwobi’s injury will be interesting to witness, with both Tom Davies and Abdoulaye Doucoure the next two options waiting in the wings.
However, with both having been sidelined for most of the season and James Garner still recovering from injury, Lampard could face a tricky selection dilemma against the Saints.