Michael Brown has been discussing how the postponement of the Premier League season due to the coronavirus pandemic will have actually come as a positive for Andre Gomes, following the Everton midfielder’s lengthy spell injured.
Gomes missed 15 top-flight fixtures between November and February as a result of the dislocation fracture he sustained to his ankle at home to Tottenham Hotspur last year, in what was his ninth outing in Royal Blue since joining in a permanent £22million deal.
Whilst on the sidelines, the man in the dugout changed from Marco Silva to Carlo Ancelotti, who has since looked fondly on the Portuguese ace he sees as his only guaranteed starting midfielder.
Losing Gomes through injury again before the season resumes would be a big blow for Ancelotti, but Brown expects the pause in play will aid the 26-year-old after starting two of the three Premier League matches he played in since returning.
“I think he’s a fantastic talent,” former Leeds United midfielder Brown told Football Insider. “On the ball, ability-wise and he’s had that little taste of coming back.
“I think now, [having the] pressure off will help him. I think with an injury, the run of games going back in, I think that will give him time to step back, get all of the muscles correct all around the injury.
“You often get those little niggles when you come back and I feel that now will help him, it will help him settle down that he doesn’t have to chase and give him that little bit of composure.
“There’s one player I think should benefit from this – if he’s able to keep strengthening.”
Gomes made a confident return to Goodison Park in his first start since the injury against Manchester United last month, when the midfielder was not afraid to push forward and have a pivotal effect on proceedings.
The former FC Barcelona man then travelled with the squad to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea, against whom he tried to keep the Toffees in the affair but was often caught out defensively as Frank Lampard’s side stormed to a 4-0 win.
We could not see an instant bounce back from Gomes, or the squad, as the coronavirus pandemic saw the season hit pause, but the break in play will at least allow the SL Benfica product to hit recharge ready for the final run of games, whenever they may come.
In other Everton news, the club will be made to pay for our failed January swoop should Carlo Ancelotti return for a 41-cap man.