Benitez told to ‘be the bigger person’ in Digne row after Everton twist – pundit
Alan Hutton has urged Everton boss Rafa Benitez to “be the bigger person” and attempt to “repair” relations with Lucas Digne.
The former Scotland defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 28-year-old is too valuable to leave out of the Toffees lineup.
Digne has been frozen out of the Everton side after the Athletic (8 December) reported he had been embroiled in a training ground spat with Benitez.
However, speaking at his pre-match press conference earlier today, Benitez confirmed the Frenchman will be available as the Toffees take on Burnley on Boxing Day.
Hutton urged the Spaniard to “sort it out” with Digne as Everton continue to struggle this term.
“There are those question marks about whether he’s a bad egg in that dressing room at Everton,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“It could just be a case of things going wrong and the player speaking his mind – and I don’t see anything wrong with that.
“We don’t know exactly what went on. However, if you’ve got a high-quality player like Digne, good about the dressing room – I would try and repair it.
“I don’t know what was said, but if there’s any way to sort it out – you have to try if you’re Rafa Benitez. He has to be the bigger person.
“If that doesn’t work, then move the player on. He needs all the quality he can get in that Everton side right now.”
Digne has made 15 appearances for Everton this term, even captaining the side on three occasions.
Everton sit 14th in the table ahead of their trip to Burnley on Monday.
In other news, Kieran Maguire warns Everton could be in ‘breach of contract’ amid a £300m reveal.