Everton injury blow as Lucas Digne pulls out of France squad with thigh problem
Defender limped out of training in the week and missed the 4-1 victory against Moldova on Friday night
EVERTON are sweating on the fitness of Lucas Digne after he pulled out of the France squad with injury.
The defender limped out of training in the week with a thigh injury.
It led to him missing Les Blues's 4-1 victory against Moldova on Friday night.
And the problem has proved serious enough for the 25-year-old left-back to also miss their second Euro 2020 qualifier against Iceland on Monday.
It means he misses the chance to come up against club-mate Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Digne, who is on loan at Everton from Barcelona, has had a fine season under Marco Silva, playing 26 times and recording four assists.
He has made 23 appearances for the French national side, and was part of the Euro 2016 squad that finished as runners-up.
Trippier to replace Digne?
While Digne has made the left-back spot his own this season, Everton appear to be planning for his return to Barca at the end of the season.
SunSport exclusively revealed how Everton have renewed their interest in England defender Kieran Trippier, who has two years left on his current deal and is worth around £20million.
Trippier has not enjoyed the best of seasons for Spurs due to form and injury.
But he also disputed a claim from boss Mauricio Pochettino that his injury problems date back to the World Cup.
Trippier pulled out of England’s November games against the United States and Croatia in November due to a groin issue.
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The following month, he was injured once more against Crystal Palace with Pochettino claiming: “It is the same problem that started in the World Cup.”
Trippier suffered an injury in the World Cup semi-final against Croatia but still played in the third place play-off with Belgium.
Explaining the injuries, he said: “They were totally different. The one against Palace, I overstretched my groin and chipped some bone in my hip.
They were two totally different issues.
“When I was sprinting back against Croatia, I got a spasm in my groin and I could literally put my finger in it. I thought, ‘My groin has gone there’.
"I came off and went for a scan after the game but there was nothing on it.
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"It was weird, really.
“For the game against Belgium, the manager picked the team, I went for a scan, had treatment and said I was fine to play. I was selected because he asked how I was. He just selected it from there and we went out and played.
The gaffer back at Tottenham has got his opinion on it, but every opportunity that I get to represent my country, I’ll play at 100 per cent.”
