November 11, (THEWILL) – Everton’s Director of Medical Services, Danny Donachie, has left the club after new manager Rafa Benitez ordered a review of the club’s key player injury record.
Benitez, who was appointed in the summer after Carlo Ancelotti returned to Real Madrid for a second stint, is said to have been concerned about recurring injuries to key players like striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the long-term absences of midfielders Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Andre Gomes.
Donachie is now on leave as the team works out the final details of his departure.
In July, Benitez hired Jamie Harley, a former Newcastle United colleague, as head of sports science, in an attempt to strengthen the medical side of his backroom staff. Last month, he hired Cristian Fernandez as a fitness rehabilitation coach, after both had also previously worked at Newcastle.
In recent press conferences, the manager has made several mentions of his concern over injuries. After the 0-0 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, Benitez praised Fernandez’s efforts in rehabilitating Fabian Delph (another player who has been out for months due to injury).
Benitez said: “He (Delph) has been working with the new rehabilitation coach and came in stronger but we have to know he’s had injuries in the past and had 10 weeks off the pitch, so it’s important to keep him fit so he can give us different options in the centre of the pitch.”
Benitez’s main concern was England international Calvert-Lewin, who suffered a thigh injury in a 2-0 win against Brighton & Hove Albion in August. Since then, the 24-year-old has not played for the first team, missing nine games, and has had a recurrence of the illness following an unsuccessful attempt to return to training in the interim.
Calvert-Lewin’s future is uncertain. There is a chance it may not be until late December, and the striker has been sorely missed after scoring three goals in his first three league games and 21 overall in the 2020/2021 campaign.
Benitez stated last month that he wants to improve the club’s performance in all areas.
And his order for a review of the club’s injury concerns have led to the exit of Donachie, whose long affinity with Everton is tied with him being the son of Willie Donachie, assistant to former manager Joe Royle. He had a 14-year spell at the club from 2001 before leaving during Roberto Martinez’s time as manager. He returned to Goodison as part of changes made by then-manager Marco Silva in 2018.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
