Carlo Ancelotti faces up to 'big loss' with Everton missing two key players for Leeds United test

BOSS Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that Everton will be without their two first choice full-backs due to injuries in Saturday's Premier League clash at home to Leeds United.
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Everton confirmed on Thursday that France international left back Lucas Digne had injured his ankle in training and Ancelotti says the 27-year-old could be looking at up to three months out.

On the opposite side of the pitch, Irish international right back Seamus Coleman who is captain for both club and country will also miss the Whites clash due to a hamstring injury.

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"Lucas Digne had an injury and it is a big loss because he is a fantastic left back, one of the best left backs in Europe at this moment," said Ancelotti at his pre-match press conference.

BOTH OUT: Everton left back Lucas Digne, right, and also right-back and club captain Seamus Coleman, centre, pictured warming up before October's Merseyside derby at home to Liverpool. Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images.BOTH OUT: Everton left back Lucas Digne, right, and also right-back and club captain Seamus Coleman, centre, pictured warming up before October's Merseyside derby at home to Liverpool. Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images.
BOTH OUT: Everton left back Lucas Digne, right, and also right-back and club captain Seamus Coleman, centre, pictured warming up before October's Merseyside derby at home to Liverpool. Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images.

"It is a loss but we have to manage this.

"Unfortunately, during a season this can happen that you lose some important players.

"We have to be able to manage the situation and I think we will be able to adapt to the loss of Lucas Digne for two or three months.

"It was an unfortunate situation during the training and unfortunately this can happen."

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Asked about Coleman, Ancelotti revealed: "Seamus Coleman is doing his individual rehab and he will not be available for this game.

"I hope soon he will be available. We have to check him week by week."

Assessing whether Everton could cope without the duo, Ancelotti reasoned: "I think so.

"We have a good squad, we have a good substitute in that position.

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"It's true that we have (Niels) Nkounkou who doesn't have experience in the Premier League but he showed good quality in the game that he played before.

"We have Jonjoe Kenny on the right that is an Everton player from the Academy so we have the possibility to substitute and we will try, of course we will try."

Ancelotti added that Kenny himself is "not 100 per cent fit" following an ankle problem but still in contention to feature against the Whites.

Midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin also remains on the comeback trail from an Achilles injury and is not expected back until another two weeks.

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