Everton injury blow as Abdoulaye Doucoure and fellow midfielder sidelined for a month

Everton midfield pair Abdoulaye Doucoure and Fabian Delph have been ruled out for a minimum of four weeks after sustaining injuries.

Doucoure, who missed four games due to injury in October and November, had started eight consecutive games but was forced off after the hour mark against Aston Villa on Saturday.

Following a scan on Thursday, a period of rehabilitation at Finch Farm is required for the midfielder.

Delph, who hasn’t featured since the 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace in December, sustained a thigh injury in training this week and will be out for the same amount of time.

Can Everton replace Doucoure?

The Toffees have been without Delph for most of the season after the former Manchester City midfielder suffered a shoulder injury early on.

But Doucoure’s absence will be a killer blow to Duncan Ferguson, or whoever takes the manager vacancy before the next fixture, with the Frenchman one of the Toffees’ most consistent performers.

Winning 2.3 tacklers per game, Doucoure’s ability to go forward and defend is one of his best attributes and something Everton will miss in the next month.

Allan has formed a partnership with Doucoure, meaning another player will have to slot next to the Brazilian in midfield.

Andre Gomes, Jean-Phillippe Gbamin and Tom Davies are the remaining centre-midfielders. With Davies out until March, Gomes is set to be the man selected.

Gbamin has only started once this season in the 2-1 defeat at Wolves, appearing only two more times off the bench, whilst Gomes has been handed more minutes after recovering from a calf injury.

The Portugeuse has featured in Everton’s previous six games and he could be the man Ferguson’s slots next to Allan for the FA Cup game with Brentford.