Frank Lampard gives Abdoulaye Doucoure injury update and makes blunt Everton midfield admission

Frank Lampard has revealed that Abdoulaye Doucoure could return for Everton against Manchester City next weekend - and believes his side must find a way to test the opposition more away from home.

Doucoure has missed each of the Blues' four matches under Lampard so far after sustaining a groin injury in the 1-0 loss to Aston Villa last month.

The midfielder has made 16 Premier League appearances over the course of 2021/22 season so far, bagging two goals and four assists in that time.

Everton released a short video clip on Twitter on Thursday showing Doucoure taking part in the warm-up as his team-mates prepared for their trip to face Southampton.

And Lampard is hopeful that the former Watford man will be available to take on City at Goodison Park on Saturday - and believes his return would give him more options in midfield.

“Since I’ve been here at the club we’ve got injuries to big players. We’re missing Ben Godfrey today, missing (Abdoulaye) Doucoure, missing Demarai Gray, Fabian Delph,” Lampard said when asked about the upcoming clash with City.

“What I am saying is that they are big players for the club and sometimes your decisions are half made for you by the injuries in the squad.

“And the rest of them are made for you by things you want to select for the game. So we will have to see who is able and ready.

“Doucoure might be close to being fit for the game, and that will give me different midfield options. We weren’t good enough in midfield today. That’s the job for us in the week to get right.”

Stuart Armstrong and Shane Long scored rare Premier League goals to give Southampton a deserved 2-0 win over the Blues on Saturday afternoon.

And despite scoring four against Brentford, and three against Leeds