Lacina Traore’s Loan Spell at Everton Could Be Jeopardized By Surgery

The future of Everton’s on-loan striker Lacina Traore could be short-timed should the Merseyside club decide he needs surgery on a hamstring injury.

The Ivory Coast international reported a problem during the warm-up ahead of Saturday’s defeat at Chelsea and was immediately withdrawn from the starting line-up.

Everton boss Roberto Martinez, who had feared the striker could be sidelined for weeks, says a decision could be made in the next 48 hours as to whether the 23-year-old 6ft 8in tall striker, on loan from AS Monaco, needs surgery.

Lacina Traore Celebrates With Ross Barckley After Scoring on his debut in the FA Cup victory over Swansea.
Lacina Traore Celebrates With Ross Barckley After Scoring on his debut in the FA Cup victory over Swansea.

“At the moment it is too early to have a final answer for that because obviously we don’t know how long he will be out for,” Martinez said.

“It is important we are working together with Monaco and what we need to get right is (that) the player gets the perfect treatment.

“The injury can be solved by consecutive treatment or it can involve surgery- that is a massive decision. depending on what route we are going down is going to have certain consequences.

“It could mean Lacina could play for us again or if he can’t- it’s a bit too early.”

Traore joined Monaco from Russian side Anzhi Makhachkalain January and was immediately loaned to the Toffees for the rest of the season.

He scored on his debut in the FA Cup victory over Swansea on February 15, which remains his only appearance.