Everton boss Rafa Benitez reveals likely return timetables for Calvert-Lewin & Abdoulaye Doucoure as four stars ruled out of Man City clash

Manchester City vs Everton

Manchester City and Everton are set to face off in Sunday’s early Premier League kick-off this weekend.

The Toffees will head into the game having been on a pretty dire run of form of late.

Rafa Benitez and co. had a superb start to 2021/22, which actually led to it looking as though they may be able to challenge for a European place.

However, their form has since fallen off a cliff and they have now failed to pick up a win in their last five league outings – losing three and drawing two.

Now, they face a Manchester City side who, though not at their scintillating best of late, have still scored 22 and conceded just six in 11 league ties this term.

As a result, Everton picking up a win this weekend does seem somewhat unlikely.

Rafa Benitez on Calvert-Lewin & Doucoure

Before taking on Manchester City, Rafa Benitez would speak to the press on Friday.

One of the main talking points in his pre-match press conference was injury news.

The Merseysiders have had some seriously poor injury luck of late, which could have contributed to their slump in form – especially the absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

And when speaking on Friday, Benitez confirmed that those injury woes are set to continue this weekend as well because all of Calvert-Lewin, Andre Gomes, Yerry Mina and Abdoulaye Doucoure remain out:

Rafa Benitez says Mina, Doucoure, Gomes and DCL remain out for Man City

— Phil Kirkbride (@philkecho) November 19, 2021

The Spaniard then provided further insight into when DCL and Doucoure will be back, with the former out for another three weeks and Doucoure one to two weeks maximum before he will be back:

“Each is different, they are getting better. You have to be sure they are fine. Doucoure is a metatarsal, so the bone has to heal. One week, two weeks maximum he will be fine. Dominic, three weeks.”
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