Medical expert: Abdoulaye Doucoure latest will have ‘massive psychological’ impact on Everton
Abdoulaye Doucoure will return to the matchday squad against Man City in a “massive psychological boost” for Everton.
That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Doucoure has been absent for the Toffees since he suffered a groin injury before the January international break.
But the Frenchman has returned to training and was pictured by club media completing drills on Thursday (17 February).
Doucoure is unlikely to start at the weekend but could well make an appearance off the bench, predicts Dinnery.
“He’s training with the squad, which is a good sign,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“Provided that goes well and he continues on that upwards trajectory, I don’t see any reason why he can’t be in and around the squad for this weekend.
“It’s a really, really tough game. I wouldn’t expect him to start. But they have been poor away from home so they want to capitalise on their home form.
“Just having Doucoure back in the matchday squad would be a massive psychological boost for some of those players.
“I wouldn’t rule out a start categorically, but I think it’s likely we’ll see him having minutes from the bench.”
Doucoure has registered two goals and four assists in 18 appearances this term.
Everton added fellow midfielders Dele Alli and Donny van de Beek on deadline day of the January window.
In other news, pundit suggests Dele Alli in line for first Everton start after “huge” injury news pre-Man City.