Everton’s opponent against Spurs is unlikely to include Abdoulaye Doucoure, but another midfield player might return to action.
Abdoulaye Doucoure is expected to be absent for Everton’s Saturday trip to Tottenham Hotspur.
Earlier this week, the Toffees lost to Fulham at Goodison Park in the Carabao Cup quarterfinal, and the midfielder was not in the team. With six goals and one assist this season, Doucoure has been the mainstay of Sean Dyche is team. Nevertheless, Doucoure ‘probably’ will not be available to face Spurs as Everton looks to win the Premier League for a fifth time in a row and pull further out of the relegation zone due to a hamstring injury sustained during last weekend’s 2-0 victory against Burnley, according to Dyche.
Due to injuries, Ashley Young, Seamus Coleman, and Vitalli Mykolenko have missed the last two games for Everton, leaving the team stretched thin. There are now few options available, but against Spurs, a long-term absentee might make a comeback.
Andre Gomes has been absent from the match-day squad since the 1-0 defeat against Fulham at the beginning of the 2023-24 season in August due to a calf injury. However, the Portuguese midfielder, who spent the previous season on loan at Lille, is edging closer to availability.
Gomes has participated in three matches for Everton’s under-21s, with his latest appearance coinciding with the Carabao Cup loss to Fulham. Playing a full 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw against Feyenoord in the Premier League International Cup, managed by Paul Tait, served as Dyche’s final assessment for the player recovering from a long-term injury before reintegrating into the first team.
Since May 2022, Gomes has not featured for Everton. Despite playing in two pre-season friendlies earlier this year and being linked with a move to Turkey after the European summer transfer window closed, Dyche expressed his desire to incorporate the former Barcelona player into his plans at Goodison Park.
Speaking at the time, the Toffees supremo said: “He’s been very unfortunate with injuries – not major injuries. He’s aware I want him to get fit, I want him to be part of what we’re doing.
“I think that he’s a very good footballer, I think he’s shown that down the years so I think it’s unlikely and he’ll be here by the end of today – and I hope that he is.”
