James Murray

Tue 30 January 2024 15:10, UK

Phil McNulty has been left surprised at how much of an impact the absence of Abdoulaye Doucoure is having on the Everton team this season.

Writing in his Q&A on the BBC Sport website on Monday (29 January, 12:16pm), the journalist said the Toffees have “gone backwards” since winning four straight Premier League games before Christmas, with the Mali international’s injury then leading to a poor run of results.

He added that the Blues need the 31-year-old midfielder, who has been linked with a move away this month, back as soon as possible as his importance to the team appears to increase with every game he misses at Goodison Park.

“I thought Sean Dyche was doing a very good with those four straight Premier League wins not so long ago, such a help after Everton were deducted 10 points,” said McNulty.

“Since then, and particularly with the injury to the influential Abdoulaye Doucoure, Everton have gone backwards, culminating in that very disappointing FA Cup defeat at home to Luton Town.

“Where I do have sympathy for Dyche is that his squad is clearly very threadbare and in Dominic Calvert-Lewin he has a striker totally stripped of confidence. He has now gone 15 games without a goal and Everton desperately need him to find form because they are not the most potent of sides at the best of times.

“And they also need Doucoure back as soon as possible, even though it is a surprise to me that his absence seems to have such a huge impact on the team in general. He is a good player but his importance seems to increase with every game he doesn’t play.”

Massive

It was widely known before this season that Doucoure was an important player for Everton, but that has increased massively as the campaign has gone.

He played a crucial role in the Toffees bouncing back superly from their 10-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s spending rules in November.

Since he was struck down through injury against Burnley on 16 December, they haven’t managed to win a single league game.

There is absolutely no doubt that the Blues need the Mali international back as soon as possible after he made his return from injury against Aston Villa on 14 January before being sidelined again with a hamstring problem.

Sean Dyche is going to have to find a way to pick up results without the midfielder to ensure his side aren’t still in the thick of a relegation battle come the end of the season.

In other Everton news, red tape has emerged on one player’s potential Goodison exit this month.

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