Rafa has a Dig at his sick player

RAFA BENITEZ has hinted at a breakdown in his relationship with Everton fan favourite Lucas Digne after the defender pulled out of tonight’s trip to Chelsea with sickness.

The Goodison manager, who left the full-back out of the Toffees’ last two matches following a bust-up between the pair, planned to start him at Stamford Bridge.

But the 28-year-old French international, who moved to Merseyside from Spanish giants Barcelona in 2018, reported under the weather yesterday.

Benitez, favourite to be the next Premier League boss sacked following a terrible run of results, admits he suspects Digne may be swinging the lead.

Asked if he believed the defender was genuinely ill, the Blues boss said: “It is not that I believe or not. I have been in football for so many years and I have so many experiences similar to this one and it is a question of making a decision.

“I have to be sure that the players who will be there tomorrow want to be there and they want to fight for the club.”

Benitez explained that Digne took part in a training session earlier in the week for the Everton XI that was scheduled to start against Chelsea tonight.

“Lucas Digne is an-important player for us,” former Liverpool and Chelsea boss Benitez said. “Yesterday we did a session and he was in the 11 starters and today he said he was ill and not available for tomorrow.”

Amid rumours that Digne wants to leave after questioning his new manager’s methods, Benitez was asked if he had directly requested a January move. He said: “I can not talk about our conversation.

“What I can say is that yesterday he was in the 11 starters and today he is ill and is not available. The future? I just have to concentrate on the next game.”

There was better news for Benitez with Allan training after missing the weekend defeat at Crystal Palace with injury.

Benitez said: “It doesn’t matter if he has any issues, he told me this morning he is ready to play for the team because he is a warrior, a fighter.”