Jean-Phlippe Gbamin is nearing a return to fitness after a long-term injury but Carlo Ancelotti revealed in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference that Everton won’t rush him back.
The 25-year-old underwent surgery after rupturing his Achilles tendon in May and hasn’t featured this season. His last appearance for Everton came all the way back in August 2019, so he will be very short of match fitness when he does eventually play.
Ancelotti said: “We want to do a proper entry for him (Gbamin) in the squad, so we will take our time. He had a lot of injuries, so we have to take care with him.”
Gbamin is currently training at Finch Farm and hasn’t suffered any setbacks in his recovery, as per an update from the club’s official website. The Ivorian has only made two appearances for the Toffees since joining on a five-year deal from Mainz in 2019, forcing Everton to manage without him for almost all of his time so far at Goodison Park.
READ EVERTON VERDICT
Ancelotti has Abdoulaye Doucoure, Allan, Andre Gomes, Fabian Delph, Tom Davies and Gylfi Sigurdsson at his disposal, so he’s not short on options in central midfield.
Supporters should see Gbamin back in the squad during the second half of the season, but his minutes may be managed carefully. The 25-year-old spent his debut season at the club ruled out with a hamstring injury and picked up an Achilles problem not long after he’d returned to fitness (Transfermarkt).
Luck hasn’t been on Gbamin’s side at Everton. Hopefully that will change when he eventually returns to the fold.
In other news, Everton must do without one man because of injury for tonight’s clash against Manchester United.
