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Gbamin 'ready to play' after long lay-off
Jean-Philippe Gbamin is in the frame to make his long-awaited return to action and could be named in the Everton squad to face Crystal Palace on Monday.
The Ivorian made just two appearances for the Toffees before suffering a serious thigh injury and had his first comeback ruined by a ruptured Achilles.
Now, after 20 months of patient rehabilitation, Gbamin has been deemed fully fit by the club's medical staff and he could even play some part against the Eagles when Everton's Premier League season resumes after a 16-day hiatus for internationals.
Carlo Ancelotti began his press conference today by talking about Gbamin, who joined the club from Mainz in the summer of 2019. He confirmed the 25-year-old's availability but offered caution over expecting him to be thrown straight into action.
Dan Donachie
"It's really good news, he trained this week, he trained last week. He is in a good condition.
"I think the medical staff did a fantastic job on him. He's ready to play. Of course we have to consider he didn't play for a year-and-a-half but we can say he's back.
"I don't know if he'll play on Monday but for sure he will be involved."
While Gbamin prepares to return, Ancelotti will also be able to call on Robin Olsen who is fit again after missing a month with an unspecified injury.
Everton will be without Jordan Pickford, Bernard, Fabian Delph and Abdoulaye Doucouré, however. Pickford is still recovering from the rib muscle injury he aggravated in the home defeat to Burnley last month and Doucouré is working his way back from a stress fracture in his foot.
Tom Davies and Ben Godfrey will be available despite missing the England Under-21 match against Croatia in midweek and there is every indication that James Rodriguez will play after spending the past few weeks honing his fitness so that he can play an important part in the final 10 matches of the season.
"James is in good condition," Ancelotti said. "He is motivated and his physicality is good. It's important for us to have James back at his best. At the start of the season he helped a lot, above all in front.
"We hope he will do the same, I am quite confident because I see him in training showing a good condition and attitude."
Reader Comments (61)
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2 Posted 02/04/2021 at 16:48:27
In any case, he will be like a new signing.
3 Posted 02/04/2021 at 16:54:44
Still young enough to overcome the injuries and alongside Doucoure, Allan and Davies, gives us options.
Obviously we've not seen enough of him but maybe the enforcer we need to sit in the pocket of space while the other midfielders go and press / harry?
4 Posted 02/04/2021 at 17:10:00
5 Posted 02/04/2021 at 17:20:35
6 Posted 02/04/2021 at 17:24:33
7 Posted 02/04/2021 at 17:37:58
8 Posted 02/04/2021 at 17:44:07
9 Posted 02/04/2021 at 18:15:55
10 Posted 02/04/2021 at 18:17:20
Good luck to him for the rest of the season! Could be the proverbial ‘like a new signing'.
11 Posted 02/04/2021 at 18:19:14
12 Posted 02/04/2021 at 18:36:05
All any player really wants is to stay fit long enough to do himself justice.
I wish him well from the bottom of my heart. The guy deserves a break.
13 Posted 02/04/2021 at 18:43:24
14 Posted 02/04/2021 at 18:57:49
15 Posted 02/04/2021 at 19:12:13
16 Posted 02/04/2021 at 19:31:25
17 Posted 02/04/2021 at 19:35:49
Curious if Olsen starts on Monday. Given the apparent fallout of the break-in, and the fact he's only here on loan, I half-expected we wouldn't see him again this season.
18 Posted 02/04/2021 at 19:36:18
19 Posted 02/04/2021 at 19:40:06
20 Posted 02/04/2021 at 19:47:25
21 Posted 02/04/2021 at 20:05:26
22 Posted 02/04/2021 at 20:14:00
23 Posted 02/04/2021 at 20:30:42
24 Posted 02/04/2021 at 20:41:57
I really do hope that this lad first off gets back to playing football and secondly turns out to be at least, ifnot better, than we have or hoped
A lot of players after so many knock downs would turn their attentions elsewhere. seems Gbamnin has kept the faith
I truly hope we benefit greatly from this, we deserve it. I hope he appreciates how lucky he has been with the support from the Club
25 Posted 02/04/2021 at 20:46:17
Is there a worse signing in Everton history? I'm not sure he's ever contributed anything but despite this seems to have the mentality that he's a big time player? Perhaps this is due to the medals Kompany, Silva et al win him at Man City?
Is he even injured? Has Carlo told him not to bother? That's complete conjecture but he winds me up I'm afraid!
Give me a good trier who's a team Man any day of the week!
26 Posted 02/04/2021 at 20:58:12
As for Delph he was a real. panic buy and was a expensive addition to deadwood.
27 Posted 02/04/2021 at 21:16:36
I could never understand the reasoning why we signed Delph
I heard things like experience etc but what a load of nonsense
We have to just bail him out at a loss, get him off the books and move on
A total embarrassment to the Club and another waster
28 Posted 02/04/2021 at 21:49:51
Obviously we are not privy to what goes on behind the scenes but the attitude he displays really gets to me! It seems like he actually believes he's some sort of top quality player doing us a favour. The reality is his contribution is and has been zero!
I might be wrong but is he trying hard enough to shake injuries off or is he on easy street taking his 70k, 80k a week?
Pay him off and try to develop Onyanko ?! Give Gbamin a good chance!
Worst signing ever in my book
29 Posted 02/04/2021 at 22:11:05
Also a word of thanks to the backroom staff who have planned the players recovery.
30 Posted 02/04/2021 at 22:13:50
He was signed by a former manager of Watford and came in with a big time Charlie attitude because he'd warmed the bench at Manchester City.
Carlo has likely taken one look at him and asked him who the food he thinks he is. So he's "injured"; aka not available for selection.
31 Posted 02/04/2021 at 22:21:23
32 Posted 02/04/2021 at 22:32:33
33 Posted 02/04/2021 at 22:50:36
I just hope Jean-Philippe can soon extract the max from himself. The sooner he does it the better I'll think of him, but I will be patient.
34 Posted 02/04/2021 at 22:54:28
35 Posted 02/04/2021 at 23:04:21
For those who think Delph is the worst signing ever - I give you in terms of quality Brett Angel and in terms of fitness Danny Williamson. I would actually describe him as a gamble that hasn't paid off. What if he turned out to be Gareth Barry MkII which is what was hoped?
36 Posted 02/04/2021 at 23:17:46
37 Posted 02/04/2021 at 23:19:10
He will “retire†a multi-millionaire, having played-about 250 first-team games in total, most of them averaging about 50 minutes, an absolute disgrace of a player and an insult to the kids that got left behind when this joker signed his first contract.
38 Posted 02/04/2021 at 23:41:24
39 Posted 02/04/2021 at 23:42:43
I still have nightmares where I see Sheedy on the subs bench with Ian Wilson wearing the Number 11 shirt!
40 Posted 02/04/2021 at 00:00:29
41 Posted 02/04/2021 at 00:00:29
I'm biased; Sheedy is my absolute best Everton player.
42 Posted 03/04/2021 at 00:34:31
If anyone is a candidate for that, it's Sheedy.
43 Posted 03/04/2021 at 01:07:31
The major surprise is Delph being injured!
44 Posted 03/04/2021 at 01:13:13
For me, we rushed Gomes back way too early; next season will be very interesting if we can get Gomes firing again, alongside a fit Gbamin, Allan and Doucouré.
I would be very patient with Gbamin and ease him back in, with little cameo roles here and there.
45 Posted 03/04/2021 at 01:16:10
Rather unfortunate to say the least, I believe it happened at a Cash Machine, he went to check his Balance and, in full incredulity and elation at having got so much for doing nothing, he 'jumped for joy' and damaged something. Could be out for a while by all accounts. Kerching! :-)
46 Posted 03/04/2021 at 01:26:46
You know what this means?
It means that not only has Gbamin recovered enough to return to the pitch, but that Carlo has seen enough in training to believe that his performance level could be good enough for the Premier League.
After two potentially career-ending injuries at the same time...that's extraordinary.
Good on ya, young man. We'll all be cheering.
47 Posted 03/04/2021 at 01:35:53
48 Posted 03/04/2021 at 07:57:16
It's been a long road and, if the player can make a full recovery, then everyone should be congratulated. Fingers crossed.
49 Posted 03/04/2021 at 10:22:37
I hope I am wrong but I don't expect to much from him after nearly two years out and two career threatening injuries.
50 Posted 03/04/2021 at 10:34:29
51 Posted 03/04/2021 at 10:46:33
52 Posted 03/04/2021 at 11:36:02
Anyway the very best of luck to Gbamin hope he gets back to full fitness especially with next season in mind.
53 Posted 03/04/2021 at 11:40:23
Thank you for the information. I don't think you are far from the truth in your suggestion. I am now a lot more reassured. Ancelotti's hallmark is attention to detail on the basics imo. He also will try to accommodate players in his tactical formations.
Dann #30,
I don't think that is far from the truth either. Delph is sitting on an obscene popstar contract whether he plays or not. That really was a muck-up transfer of a Summer by Everton.
54 Posted 03/04/2021 at 11:49:03
55 Posted 03/04/2021 at 12:24:37
The return to team training will have been the reward, the icing on the cake, for coming through rehabilitation successfully. I also don't think he has exactly the same psychological hurdles as Seamus and André as his wasn't a bone-breaking challenge from an opponent. As long as he has healed well and built up the muscle I think he will be good to go.
He still needs to get up to match speed and prove he has the abilities we need. He can probably do that as well through some proper game time off the bench.
I suspect the manager doesn't see the need to go easy on him and wants a proper assessment of him as soon as possible.
56 Posted 04/04/2021 at 02:41:33
57 Posted 04/04/2021 at 08:12:49
We have to hope that lessons have been learned with regards paying fees and long term massive contracts to aging players with chronic injury history. The ever increasing physical demands of the Premier League should shift policy away from these gambles. Without ruling it out completely for a no brainer.
In the main, I'd rather us be gambling on well scouted younger players bursting with desire and potential from the Championship and good European leagues, on lower wage deals and easier to find another club if they don't quite make it.
58 Posted 04/04/2021 at 10:53:42
Is there any indication when the rearranged fixture against Villa is likely to be?
59 Posted 04/04/2021 at 14:33:13
60 Posted 04/04/2021 at 18:13:44
62 Posted 05/04/2021 at 14:22:01
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1 Posted 02/04/2021 at 16:46:50