Everton’s midfield has been transformed this season by Carlo Ancelotti’s transfer business during the summer.
Abdoulaye Doucoure was absolutely outstanding against Leicester last night, putting in arguably his best display in an Everton shirt.
That 2-0 win represented a great night’s work for Everton but it wasn’t a perfect evening.
Allan went off injured in the first half and Ancelotti said after the game the midfielder could be out for between four and six weeks.
Andre Gomes came on to replace Allan last night, but he isn’t as defensively minded as the former Napoli man.
He has quality on the ball, but not the same physicality or bite as a holding player. Bringing him in would force Doucoure to drop further back.
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As it happens, Ben Godfrey might have been a left-field defensive midfield option, if he wasn’t already being used out of position at left back.
Perhaps Tom Davies could take this opportunity to force himself back into the first XI. He lacks Allan’s class but does have energy.
Fabian Delph is out injured right now, but is an experienced Premier League campaigner who could step in.
Jean-Philippe Gbamin is out until the new year, but if he can get back fit before Allan, perhaps he could finally get his Everton career going.
He came in with a big reputation under Marco Silva but injury stopped his Toffees career before it really got started.
It might be a case of Davies in the short term – or Gomes if Everton expect to dominate the ball – to replace Allan.
But Gbamin may well have been handed a route back into a side he has been out of for so long.