Everton

Fabulous – Lineker blown away by Digne

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Image for Fabulous – Lineker blown away by Digne

Gary Lineker hailed “fabulous” Lucas Digne after he rescued a point for Everton in their 2-2 Premier League draw against Watford on Monday night.

The Match of the Day host and former Everton goalscorer was blown away by the stoppage-time free-kick from the left-back at Goodison Park that denied the visitors what would have been a sweet victory against former manager Marco Silva.

Writing on his personal Twitter account after the match, Lineker was impressed by the intervention of Digne, and claimed he “has been watching a lot of [Lionel] Messi in training”.

OPINION

What a first goal in an Everton jersey from Digne, the left-back who is emerging as a more than worthy successor to Leighton Baines, who had an iron grip on the position for most of the last decade. Everton’s summer recruitment was excellent, with Digne one of three arrivals from Barcelona – along with Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes – who has improved a side that were so mediocre under Sam Allardyce and Ronald Koeman last season. Digne began the season on the sidelines but has not looked back since starting the draw against Huddersfield on 1 September and the draw against Watford was his 13th consecutive league start. The 25-year-old Frenchman offers defensive solidity and awareness and, crucially for a modern left-back, is excellent on the overlap and providing a dangerous attacking weapon. Technically sound, his magnificent curling free-kick to save a point would not have been disowned by his former teammate Messi.

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