Sean Dyche shares injury update on Abdoulaye Doucoure ahead of Everton v Tottenham clash
Sean Dyche does not expect to have Abdoulaye Doucoure back fit for the weekend in a blow to Everton ahead of their trip to Tottenham on Saturday (23 December).
The attacking midfielder was withdrawn at half-time of the 2-0 victory at Burnley (16 December) as a precaution with a hamstring issue and consequently sat out as the Toffees exited the Carabao Cup in the quarter-finals after a penalty shoot-out defeat to Fulham on Tuesday (19 December).
Everton’s top scorer is now set to miss out versus Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a further blow for Dyche and the Toffees.
“Probably not at the weekend but going forwards we are hopeful it settles down quickly,” Dyche said in quotes reported by the Liverpool Echo (20 December).
“He is super fit and he is a good healer so we are hopeful it settles down quickly.”
Huge shame
The feelgood factor that had developed at Goodison Park after four straight victories was dampened a little by the Carabao Cup exit to Fulham, and it felt like an opportunity missed for Everton.
There is some context to that, though, with Doucoure not the only absentee. Vitaliy Mykolenko, Ashley Young, and Seamus Coleman were all missing and the squad is feeling a little stretched at the minute – at the worst possible time ahead of the congested festive schedule.
Doucoure’s absence is the one that will be most keenly felt, though. There is an argument to be made that he has been he most important player under Dyche and someone who has really flourished under his leadership.
Having him available against Spurs would have greatly improved the team’s chances of returning to Merseyside with all three points. You cannot write this Everton side off but the task is undoubtedly much more difficult without him.
In other Everton news, Jamie Carragher has called for a rule change after the Toffees crashed out v Fulham.