Here are your Everton headlines for the evening of Friday November 27.
Everton boss admits Lucas Digne injury is ‘big loss’
Carlo Ancelotti has opened up on Lucas Digne’s ankle injury with the Everton manager describing the news as “a big loss” ahead of the busy winter period.
Digne picked up the injury in training, leaving Niels Nkounkou as Everton’s only designated left back for the foreseeable future. Ancelotti explained why it was such a loss to the Frenchman sidelined for so long.
“Lucas Digne had an injury, it is a big loss because he is a fantastic left back,” Ancelotti told reporters ahead of the Premier League fixture against Leeds United this weekend.
“One of the best in Europe in this moment. We have to manage this, unfortunately during a season can happen that you lose important players and we have to be able to manage the situation.
“I think we will be able to adapt to the loss of Lucas Digne for two or three months. It was an unfortunate situation during training, unfortunately this can happen.”
Everton record without Lucas Digne a reason for concern
Everton are set to be without Digne for the next two to three months after the French left back picked up an ankle injury in training this week.
Ancelotti described the news as “a big loss” ahead of the busy winter period and Everton’s past record without Digne is a reason for concern for the Italian coach.
As the ECHO’s Phil Kilbride details, Everton have won just one of the five Premier League games they have played without Digne since his arrival in the summer of 2018, drawing one and losing three.
Digne has missed two games in other competitions, seeing off Lincoln City in the FA Cup, but losing on penalties to Leicester City in last season’s Carabao Cup quarter finals.
Carlo Ancelotti responds to speculation around Everton director of football
Ancelotti has responded to speculation linking Everton directer of football Marcel Brands with Manchester United.
Brands is in the final year of his contract at Goodison Park, prompting suggestions he could be on his way to Old Trafford. United are believed to be on the lookout for a figure to act as a link between the executive and the manager.
The Dutchman has been put forward as a potential candidate, but Ancelotti expressed his view that Brands should be kept on Merseyside.
“I have a good relationship with him, but apart from this a friendship,” he said. “I think he is doing a fantastic job, he's been at this club more than me.
"I found the club really well organised. I found a really important scouting department. So I think it will be important for him to continue and to find a deal with the club.”
