Sean Dyche faces ‘potential major headache’ at Everton amid developments on Abdoulaye Doucoure and ‘lost’ Arnaut Danjuma
Arnaut Danjuma’s “struggles” to make an impact for Everton in the 3-0 win over Burnley was a rare “area of concern” in midweek, according to Chris Beesley.
The Liverpool Echo journalist wrote for the paper’s website on 3 November that the on-loan winger had “appeared somewhat lost” playing in the central supporting striker role in the Carabao Cup victory.
And with Abdoulaye Doucouré in line to be absent for the Africa Cup of Nations with Mali the manager faces a “major potential headache” in filling the gap he leaves behind.
Beesley wrote: “The on-loan Villarreal player has looked a livewire at times for Everton when deployed on the flanks but he appeared somewhat lost in this more central attacking support role before making way for Doucoure midway through the second half.
“Given that Doucoure’s Mali are competing in the Africa Cup of Nations group games in Ivory Coast next January, Dyche faces a potential major headache when it comes to filling the gap.”
Problem position?
Newly re-signed highest-paid player in the Everton squad Doucouré has become a vital part of Dyche’s set up, and without his goals last season the club would surely have been relegated.
Danjuma’s arrival at Goodison Park at the second time of asking was a positive move during the summer, but aside from a few flashes he hasn’t been as important as might have been hoped.
Jack Harrison looks to have already surpassed him in a comparatively short time after the second of the on-loan wingers returned from injury following his arrival from Leeds United.
Dyche will likely want to focus on the positives of the Toffees’ form currently, which with five wins in the past seven games is arguably better than it has been at any stage for about two years.
But he will no doubt have an eye on what he does in the winter when he hasn’t got Doucouré available to him, so may be rotating his options in the run up to the tournament.
Danjuma, Beto, and possibly Youssef Chermiti are potential options, any of whom will become all the more significant if Dominic Calvert-Lewin isn’t still fit and firing at that stage.
There are a lot more good elements to the Everton side currently but there is a definite hurdle to clear without Doucouré so preparation for that question will be vital.
In other Everton news, the authorities have been tipped to be unhappy after Farhad Moshiri’s and Josh Wander’s recent “behaviour”.