Everton have suffered another serious injury setback after the in-form midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré broke a foot.
Doucouré has been in excellent form for Rafael Benítez’s team this season but faces an extended spell on the sidelines with a fractured metatarsal. The 28-year-old, who has scored twice in the Premier League this term and produced four assists – only Paul Pogba has more – requires surgery. He missed part of last season with a similar problem.
Benítez remains without the midfield alternatives André Gomes and Fabian Delph owing to injury, and his main strikers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison have rarely featured because of fitness problems.
Calvert-Lewin has been out for two months with toe and thigh injuries but is not close to a return. Richarlison may have a chance of featuring against his former club Watford on Saturday as he recovers from a knee injury.
