Everton have confirmed on their official website that their new summer signing Jean-Philippe Gbamin has sustained a serious muscle injury. In the post-match interview after the Toffees’ 2-0 loss away at Aston Villa on Friday night, Marco Silva provided an update on the extent of Gbamin’s injury and said (via the Liverpool Echo), “It’s more serious than we’d expected and will be some weeks.
“In some hours our medical staff will put out a statement.”
The Merseyside club has later released a statement on their website which read, “Midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin has sustained a significant injury to his right quadriceps muscle.
“The 23-year-old will undergo further investigation with the Club’s medical staff at USM Finch Farm this week.”
Gbamin’s Impressive Spell In The Bundesliga Last Season
Gbamin’s recent injury setback would be a bitter pill to swallow for Silva just when he was about to incorporate the Ivorian talent in his first-team. The 23-year-old has already featured in two Premier League matches for the Toffees this season and put in an impressive display in his team’s win over Watford at Goodison Park earlier this month.
The San Pedro born prospect made a name for himself in the Bundesliga during his spell at Mainz. He made 33 appearances for the German outfit last season, scoring two goals while providing one assist on all fronts. On the defensive end, Gbamin averaged 1.6 tackles, 1.0 interceptions and 0.9 clearances per game in the top tier of Germany last term (stats via whoscored).
Gbamin’s Muscle Injury: Huge Blow For Everton?
Gbamin loves to play as the anchorman in midfield but can also operate as a centre-back if required. He is a terrific defender in 1v1 situations and can make some vital interceptions for his side. Losing a player of the Ivorian’s versatility and defensive strengths will undeniably be a massive blow for the Toffees and their chances of enjoying a successful season in the English top-flight.
There is no doubt that Everton will find it difficult without Gbamin, but Silva still has enough options in midfield to cope with the Ivorian’s absence in the coming weeks. The Merseysiders have currently got Morgan Schneiderlin and Andre Gomes playing in Silva’s starting XI while the likes of Tom Davies and Fabian Delph are expected to operate as their back-ups in the Toffees squad.
Therefore, Everton are better off concentrating on their current midfield options rather than feel sorry for Gbamin’s injury. Otherwise, they will be in for another tough and gruelling season in the Premier League.
