Word stemming from the media late on Saturday night suggests that Lucas Digne has not been afforded a place in Everton’s squad to face Crystal Palace.
Benitez ‘disagreement’
The name of left-back Digne has of course taken its place front and centre when it comes to ongoings at Goodison Park over the course of the last week.
Unfortunately for the French international himself, however, this has come for all the wrong reasons.
In something of a bolt from the blue, Digne, long the undisputed first-choice left-back on the blue half of Merseyside, was completely omitted from the Everton squad which ultimately got the better of Arsenal on Monday night.
The ensuing refusal of Rafael Benitez to provide an explanation for the situation, meanwhile, quickly culminated in suggestions of unrest in the Toffees camp, claims which were confirmed this past Thursday.
Digne, it is understood, was dropped against Arsenal owing to a ‘disagreement’ with his manager:
Understand Lucas Digne was available to play against Arsenal. #EFC full back left out after disagreement with Benitezhttps://t.co/SwVlbGHvj8
— Patrick Boyland (@Paddy_Boyland) December 8, 2021
In turn, it came as little surprise when the subject of Digne’s status was quickly brought to the fore during Benitez’s latest press conference on Friday.
Everton are set to return to action tomorrow evening, in a crunch Premier League clash with Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The club’s boss, however, refused to commit either way when it came to the possibility of Digne being reintroduced to the matchday setup, simply explaining that:
‘The manager decides. He was training today and tomorrow. We will see if he is available or not.’
Digne misses out?
But, as alluded to above, with less than 18 hours to go before proceedings get underway at Selhurst, a late update has been forthcoming on Digne’s situation.
And those of a Toffees persuasion hopeful of the former Barcelona man slotting back in on the left of their side’s backline versus Palace will no doubt be left hugely disappointed by the news.
As per renowned Everton insider ‘The Bobble’, followed by a host of reliable sources from the likes of The Times and The Athletic, Digne has not been included in the travelling Everton party set for south London on Sunday:
Lucas Digne has not travelled with the rest of the Everton squad, for the trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday 🔵
— The Bobble (@ElBobble) December 11, 2021
Read more:
Crystal Palace vs Everton betting tips: Preview, predictions & odds
Official: Everton starlet pens new deal until 2025
