Benitez ‘power trip’ lambasted after Digne twist emerges from Everton – pundit
Gabby Agbonlahor has urged Rafa Benitez to reintegrate Lucas Digne back into the Everton starting XI.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker insisted Digne is too good to be frozen out at Goodison Park.
The left-back has not been in a matchday squad since the 4-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby at the beginning of December.
The Athletic reported earlier this month (8 December) he had an argument with Benitez in front of the rest of the squad that saw him miss out in their last two games.
As quoted by the Times’ Paul Joyce today (15 December), Benitez revealed he was set to start against Chelsea tomorrow but is now unavailable through illness.
“Someone like Digne is one of their better players, a France international,” Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“Godfrey looks like he struggles at left-back so it doesn’t make sense to keep him [Digne] out of the team. I think they need to get him back in there.
“Sometimes managers can have a power trip a bit. I think that’s what Benitez has had there with Digne. He needs to bring him back in.
“There can be arguments but they should be resolved as men.
“Get him back involved because he’s a player they are going to need.”
Digne has featured in 13 Premier League games this term but is yet to register a goal or an assist.
The 28-year-old contributed seven top-flight assists in the previous two campaigns.
In other news, Everton are in ‘big trouble’ and Benitez knows he cannot save them as the ‘truth’ is revealed.