Doucoure absence will probably be more difficult for Everton than Allan

Along with a comprehensive and fully deserved 2-0 defeat at Chelsea, Everton also had the additional bad news last night that Abdoulaye Doucoure had suffered a more significant injury than first appeared.

Doucoure had been dealing with what seemed a slight knock and possibly fatigue but then just before the Chelsea match he was ruled out of the game and Everton lined up without the dynamic Frenchman in midfield. His absence cost the Blues dear.

Now today we learn that Doucoure is out with what Carlo Ancelotti calls an ‘important injury’. The Toffees manager is becoming known for his enigmatic pronouncements on injuries and this is the latest example.

Doucoure’s ‘important injury’ could be an ankle fracture, which if it was would keep him out for weeks, possibly even for the rest of the season.

At the very least given what Ancelotti is saying he is unavailable for the Blues next Premier League match against Burnley and then the FA Cup quarter final with Manchester City.

If Doucoure is out for any length of time, I think it will actually be a harder loss to cope with than his midfield partner Allan or even perhaps the injuries to other star players like Lucas Digne or James Rodriguez.

Ever since he joined Everton, Doucoure has been integral to the way the team now plays. His relentless energy, workrate and commitment to the cause have become foundational to how Ancelotti’s side functions and performs.

Doucoure can do everthing defensively. He covers a huge amount of ground and as well as breaking up opponents attacks and winning the ball on the ground and in the air, he also tracks back superbly filling in for other players in the team.

He has generally been playing on the right and that’s been especially important because this is the area of the Everton team that has usually been the weakest.

Right-back Seamus Coleman is a player in decline and has suffered a series of injuries this season and while Mason Holgate had generally performed solidly (although he was poor last night), as a makeshift full-back, that’s not his position and he lacks the skills to play there effectively.

In addition, when Rodriguez plays on the right side of the attack, Doucoure is critically important in covering for his team-mate. So the Frenchman’s role is crucial to shoring up this flank.

He’s not been as involved as much in the attacking third as we might have expected, but that’s a consequence of these issues and how the Toffees have lined up, very often playing quite defensive and counter-attacking football. When he’s been asked to play a more disciplined central role because of Allan’s absence recently, he’s done that very well too.

The problem Ancelotti will now face is that he has no one in his squad who can replicate what Doucoure offers.

When Allan went down with his hamstring injury there was uncertainty about how the Blues would cope. But Doucoure and then Tom Davies stepped up and covered well for the Brazilian.

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Davies in particular has recently slotted into that holding defensive position Allan has generally been playing in. He’s done a good job sitting in front of the defence, winning the ball and then using it effectively but he doesn’t have the pace or energy of the Frenchman to get about the pitch and cover so effectively.

One obvious possible solution as to who might replace Doucoure, would have been Jean-Philippe Gbamin. Had he been fit he might have been able to come in and play that role but of course he’s still in long-term rehabilitation recovering from his last injury setback.

Although we’ve been hearing for weeks that he’s progressing with this rehab and will be back soon, there is still no clear idea when, if ever, he will finally be fit and healthy.

So all this means that Ancelotti has yet another major selection headache to deal with and I don’t envy him having to sort this out. It’s possibly his toughest yet this season.

The only possible solution that I can think of is to try Ben Godfrey in that role. Godfrey can and has played in midfield as well as both full-back positions, has abundant pace, strength and energy and so he might be able to cover Doucoure’s role for a few weeks.

That though means taking him out of the defence and with Yerry Mina still not fit, I’m not sure Ancelotti will feel able to do that. And all this on top of the nature of the defeat to Chelsea last night, emphasises how much more work has to be done to improve this Everton squad.

Doucoure absence harder for Everton to solve than Allan

By Matt Townsend | Mar 9, 2021

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