---
title: "Lucas Digne Could Return Within Three Months After Successful Surgery"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/lucas-digne-surgery-ankle-injury-return-date/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Jones"
section: "Everton News"
published: "2020-12-02T12:00:42Z"
modified: "2020-12-02T12:00:42Z"
---

# Lucas Digne Could Return Within Three Months After Successful Surgery

Everton left-back [Lucas Digne](https://readeverton.com/2020/11/27/everton-fans-react-lucas-digne-ankle-injury/) has successfully undergone ankle surgery, having sustained a heavy injury in training after the recent 3-2 win over Fulham.

The France international had [damaged ankle ligaments](https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1915675/digne-injury-update) in a training session at Finch Farm last Thursday ahead of the Toffees’ 1-0 defeat against Leeds United.

The 27-year-old is a cornerstone in manager Carlo Ancelotti’s defensive plans and had [missed only five league games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lucas-digne/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/126664/verein/29) for the club prior to his injury for the Toffees since joining from Barcelona in the summer of 2018 in an [£18m deal](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11671/12143169/lucas-digne-everton-left-back-to-undergo-surgery-after-suffering-ankle-ligament-injury).

Having since undergone surgery, the defender is now expected to be sidelined for ‘two to three months’, according to [The Athletic](https://theathletic.co.uk/2229796/2020/11/30/everton-iwobi-davies/).

Another source in [Inside Futbol](https://insidefutbol.com/2020/12/01/everton-star-undergoes-surgery-procedure-considered-success-by-all-parties/483902/) indicated that the France international ‘is set to work closely with the Merseyside club’s head of medical Danny Donachie’ on his road to recovery.

### Read Everton Verdict

Whilst the success of the surgery and greater clarity on the timeframe of a return is hugely encouraging, it is only a pyrrhic victory for Everton. The underlying statistics from the Leeds defeat are indicative of the defensive and offensive qualities cut adrift when the Toffees are without their main left-back.

[The Athletic](https://theathletic.co.uk/2229796/2020/11/30/everton-iwobi-davies/) have argued it was the Toffees’ ‘worst defeat in three years’ – or in 101 Premier League games – in terms of the ratio between expected goals scored and conceded. The ‘xGA’ ratio was 3.21 – meaning the quality of Everton’s offensive acumen should have seen a far greater scoring return. Instead, the Toffees were left languishing after an avoidable defeat in which they failed to capitalise upon strong chances.

With Digne [scoring five goals and setting up 17](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lucas-digne/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/126664/verein/29) in his 87 appearances for the club, Everton certainly seem to be the missing the threat provided by the Frenchman, who BBC pundit Garth Crooks has proclaimed as having “[a taste for goals](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/46696457)“.