Everton Injury Update: Big Lucas Digne blow and Allan optimism as four surely ruled out vs Chelsea

Just when things seemed to get better in terms of injuries, The Royal Blues have suffered multiple blows that has left them in probably the most vulnerable state so far. Everton have been decimated by the injuries and now the wave seems to hit a new peak as key players continue to remain sidelined.

When the first injury wave struck, Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Seamus Coleman and Jordan Pickford suffered injuries. While Richarlison, Coleman and Pickford made a return, the midfield pillar Abdoulaye Doucoure joined Calvert-Lewin.

Last week, Rafa Benitez was hopeful that Calvert-Lewin would soon return. The key players were on course to return but there have been fresh injury blows that have weakened the spine of the team.

Benitez invited a lot of criticism for bringing off Richarlison against Crystal Palace but the Spaniard later revealed that he had a calf problem and had to be taken off. Scans have revealed that the Brazilian had suffered a tear. Ahead of the game against Chelsea, Benitez provided an injury update.

Everton injury update

Everton suffered a triple injury blow with Richarlison, Andros Townsend and Seamus Coleman sustained injuries in the Palace game. The Brazilian striker has a tear in the calf and is expected to be sidelined for weeks.

Townsend underwent an X-ray and the scan revealed a small foot fracture. Lastly, Coleman suffered his second injury of the season. The Irishman could be out after picking up bone bruising and soft tissue damage.

The former Valencia manager addressed the situation of Richarlison, Townsend, Coleman, Calvert-Lewin, Allan and lastly Lucas Digne. Digne was not injured but was left out of the squad by Benitez after a supposed fallout but the manager has now revealed that the Frenchman will miss the Chelsea game albeit due to illness.

On Richarlison:

"We knew he [Richarlison] had a problem, the conversation I had with him this morning was clear. He understands we were trying to do the best for him and the team. That’s it. It’s a massive difference. Richarlison is injured maybe because of overload. We don’t have too many, now we are trying to manage the problems of the past. As soon as we have key players injured we have problems. (via club’s official YouTube channel)"

On Andros Townsend and Seamus Coleman:

"In terms of time, no [updates]. Townsend has a broken bone, so that takes time, We need to see what the specialists say in terms of Seamus he was pushing. He has a swollen foot. He is someone who wants to help. We are assessing him and will decide tomorrow."

On Dominic Calvert-Lewin:

"Before the press conference, I met Dominic and he was positive and training well. He’s getting really really close. With him, the only issue is we have to be sure we dont take too much risk, because he’s had two injuries. We want to be sure he is 100% fit and hopefully can be a crucial player in the second part. We will see him soon."

On Allan: 

"Allan has been training. He’s okay and we have to keep an eye on him. In his favour, it doesn’t matter if he has an issue. In the last game against Arsenal, in the last 10-15 minutes, he was playing with abductor problems. He wants to help. He told me this morning, he’s ready to help the team and he’ll be available if needed because he is a warrior."

On Lucas Digne:

"I cannot agree more [on his reintegration in the squad]. He’s a good player. He was an important player for us. Yesterday, we had a training session and he was in the 11 starters and today he said, he is ill and is not available for tomorrow."

With the most recent injury update, Everton will surely be without Richarlison, Townsend, Digne,  and Calvert-Lewin. Allan has trained and is ready if needed meanwhile the fitness team will continue to assess Coleman.

The Toffees have been reduced to bare bones and are set to face a rampant Chelsea side who have lost just one game in the last 15 in all competitions. If the hopes of getting a result were bleak, the injury crisis now makes it look like a mission impossible.

Can the flurry of injuries make it any more worse for Everton?