---
title: "Jean-Philippe Gbamin Set for New Year Return"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/jean-philippe-gbamin-set-for-new-year-return/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Jones"
section: "Everton News"
published: "2020-12-16T14:00:00Z"
modified: "2020-12-16T14:00:00Z"
---

# Jean-Philippe Gbamin Set for New Year Return

Everton may have been given an early Christmas present after it emerged that Ivorian midfielder [Jean-Philippe Gbamin](https://readeverton.com/2020/11/19/agbonlahor-backs-loan-move-jean-philippe-gbamin/) is set to return to full fitness at the turn of the year.

The [£23m signing from Mainz in 2019](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49204313) has struggled with a serious quad injury which was then followed by Achilles damage which caused his Toffees career to falter.

He was brought in as a direct replacement for defensive midfielder Idrissa Gueye but has [only made two Premier League appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jean-philippe-gbamin/leistungsdaten/spieler/182894) in what has been an immensely disappointing spell for the Blues.

The Ivorian has spent time on an [intensive recovery programme](https://www.toffeeweb.com/season/20-21/news/40231.html) at Finch Farm as he looks to accelerate his return to the team.

Fortunately, Gbamin may have a chance to prove his worth; Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has recently indicated he is looking ahead to the New Year in terms of a likely return of Gbamin to first team plans.

In press conference quotes shared by [Toffee Web](https://www.toffeeweb.com/season/20-21/news/40231.html), the Italian said when asked about Gbamin:

> I’m waiting and the player is desperate to come \[back\]. I think today we have a talk with him and the doctor and I think we can start to look for him for the next year.

> We hope that it can be a different year because the guy has had a lot of problems; he has suffered a lot and we hope that 2021 will be fantastic for him.

> I don’t think \[we will see him before the end of this year\] but the important thing will be for him to start to train with the team.

### Read Everton Verdict

It may well be now or never for the Ivorian at Goodison Park.

If he can’t break into the team and put a good run of performances together once he returns from his injury woe, he may struggle to ever get going in English football – at least in an Everton shirt.