Abdoulaye Doucoure gives honest opinion on Everton season and offers Frank Lampard tactics insight

Abdoulaye Doucoure is determined to prove his worth to Everton as he enters the final year of his contract.

The midfielder said last season was the toughest of his career due to his personal battle with injury and the club’s collective fight against relegation. As a new season approaches he hopes the Blues can push on and be competitive enough to play with more freedom.

Crucial to his own game is the knowledge of manager Frank Lampard, with Doucoure acknowledging one of the Premier League’s greatest midfielders has already helped him to improve his game.

Foot and groin injuries disrupted Doucoure’s season. A damaged metatarsal sustained against West Ham United in October - in what was just Everton’s second defeat of the campaign - placed him on the sidelines after a strong start. He then missed the opening weeks of Lampard’s reign with the groin issue, sustained in January. When he returned to fitness he was fighting for a place in a team facing a relegation battle that saw Lampard eventually pushed into pragmatic tactics as the club fought for every vital point.

Reflecting on the season from Everton’s team hotel during the tour of the US, Doucoure said: “To be honest it was the toughest season of my career. Of course, the end was nice. But it was very tough for all of us. I think it was the toughest season we had in our careers so far.”

The 29-year-old said it was a huge lift for everyone when the club secured its Premier League status with a comeback win over Crystal Palace in the penultimate game of the year. He said he was aware throughout the survival battle of just what relegation would mean: “All through the season it was tough. We had never been in a good position to get ahead - we got safe with one game in hand,