Danny Mills delivers verdict on Everton star Lucas Digne, urges patience on Merseyside

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Danny Mills has told Alan Brazil’s Sports Breakfast Show (Tuesday 7:40am) that Everton’s new signings need time to get to their best at Goodison Park – and used Lucas Digne as an example.

Digne, 26, joined Everton from Barcelona in the summer of 2018 for a fee of £18million (Guardian) and got off to a slow start as he got to grips with the tougher rigours of English football. But he quickly improved.

The France international regained his place in the national side with some excellent performances, both at the back and going forward. Indeed, Digne clocked up 37 appearances, scoring four goals and creating five more.

Former England defender Mills has urged fans to give Everton’s new signings in the likes of Moise Kean, Alex Iwobi and the injured Jean-Philippe Gbamin time to adapt – despite The Toffees sitting way down in 14th place.

“When Lucas Digne signed, everyone thought ‘ooh, he’s a little bit weak’. But he has been excellent and went on to win the Player of the Season award. There us a bedding in process for these Everton players,” Mills said.

TBR’s view – How long does Silva have at Everton?

Everton were seen as a team that could finally break into the big six this season. They spent plenty of money once again, more than £100million with Andre Gomes signing permanently, but they have started poorly.

Given they have had a somewhat easy start to life, facing Palace, Watford, Villa, Wolves, Bournemouth and Sheffield United, Everton fans would have been forgiven for thinking they could be at the top end of the table.

However, just seven points and three losses is nowhere near good enough. Things must improve, Digne style, or Silva will go.