da winzada777： Andre Gomes is a doubt for Everton’s upcoming Premier League clash with Manchester United after developing a minor knee injury in defeat to Newcastle, according to the Liverpool Echo.
da dobrowin： Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed the Portuguese ace will need further assessment before being passed fit to face the Red Devils at Goodison Park this Saturday, having needed replacing on the hour mark at St. James’ Park.
The Italian is hopeful Gomes can feature at the weekend but will give the Merseyside outfit’s medical team room to monitor the situation, with Seamus Coleman, James Rodriguez and Ben Godfrey also missing the Toon affair with hamstring, haematoma and hamstring injuries respectively.
Gomes has started all five of his Premier League appearances for the season, but struggled to make an impact for the right reasons at Newcastle having fouled Callum Wilson in the box to hand Steve Bruce’s side the chance of opening the scoring.
The former FC Barcelona midfielder’s problems on Tyneside also led to a game-low SofaScore match rating of 5.8 out of ten, after losing all five of his ground duels, turning over possession nine times, misplacing 23% of his 30 passes – including his only cross and both attempted long balls – being dribbled past on three occasions and offering no shots, tackles, clearances or interceptions.
Gomes’ form could easily have seen that Ancelotti sought to bench the 27-year-old again after doing so at Southampton, but a potential injury scare will offer Fabian Delph an ever-more welcome gift with a chance to impress and protect his Everton career.
Delph started the Newcastle defeat as Ancelotti rotated his line-up to cover for the mounting injuries, and lived up to former Everton boss Marco Silva’s words of being an important player in Royal Blue with the game’s most touches (126) and accurate passes (96) plus three clearances, one interception, one tackle and a successful dribble, per WhoScored.
Silva, who signed Delph from Manchester City in a deal that could reach £10million, was full of optimism for what the midfielder could bring to Goodison Park last year, telling EvertonTV: “When we looked at our squad last season, we saw some important things Fabian could add.
“Not just his football qualities, he can give us different things and will be an important player for us. it is really important midfield players, everyone in the central zone, have that leadership and can command the team in some moments.”
But injuries ran riot through Delph’s maiden campaign at Goodison Park, with the former England international first sustaining a thigh injury during a pre-season friendly with Werder Bremen before a hamstring strain in October that he aggravated again in November.
He eventually returned in December but enjoyed just nine appearances before his debut season came to a premature end in March through sickness, as a muscle strain ensured he took no part in the Blues’ Project Restart efforts.
Altogether, the issues ensured Delph started just 13 of his 16 Premier League appearances for 1,190 minutes on the field, while playing his first minutes since February in Everton’s Carabao Cup win over Fleetwood Town in September.
Sunday’s defeat to Newcastle marked Delph’s first Premier League start this season, too, and any consistent time in the side could allow the 30-year-old to protect his Everton career after being linked with a move away this summer.
Reports by The Times claimed the Toffees were open to offers for a string of fringe players including Delph, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Bernard and Theo Walcott after Farhad Moshiri sanctioned the Goodison Park outfit’s pursuit of Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Being cast aside by Ancelotti this term could have put Delph back in the shop window, but an injury to Gomes could be what he needs to destroy the for sale sign altogether.
AND in other news, Marcel Brands can build Everton’s dream unit with a gem who Carlo Ancelotti calls “one of the best”.