Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye has been confirmed by his international manager to be a major doubt for Senegal’s clash against Madagascar this Sunday having picked up a knee injury.
The 28-year-old, who has been a mainstay in the squad, was absent from the Toffees’ squad for their draw again Huddersfield before the international break, and is now set to face a fight against time to recover for his country’s African Cup of Nations qualifier against the island nation.
Detailing the problems with the 5’7″ (source: Transfermarkt) star, Aliou Cisse, coach for Senegal, told Senegal7: “Gana is uncertain, he has a sore on his knee. We will make the point with the doctor but it is uncertain for the meeting.”
Opinion
Everton really missed Gueye’s combative nature in the middle of the park when they took on Huddersfield and with a clash against a lacklustre West Ham side who are desperately seeking their first points of the campaign up next, they could do with him fighting fit to make sure they keep the Hammers at the foot of the table. However it looks as though it could be touch and go for the experienced international, and the Toffees may well be hoping that Senegal do not risk him against Madagascar if he is not 100 per cent ready to take part. This comes down to the whole club versus country debate, and both sides of the argument have valid reasons for why they want/do not want him to be playing this weekend. At the end of the day, only the player himself really knows if he is ready to take part, and Everton must hope he uses common sense rather than rushing back into things.