Gomes ankle surgery ‘a success’ as players offered counselling

Full recovery predicted for Everton midfielder Son ‘broken’ over tackle that led to horror injury

Everton expect Andre Gomes to make a full recovery from the horrific ankle injury which overshadowed Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham and left some of his fellow players in tears.

Gomes underwent surgery on the fracture dislocation yesterday, which was declared successful. Although there is no prospect of the Portuguese midfielder featuring again this season, there was a mood of optimism about the classy 26-year-old working his way back after a prolonged period of recovery and rehabilitation.

Everton confirmed counselling was available to players who were traumatised by witnessing the extent of the injury to their friend and team-mate, although such a service is available throughout the season and is not a specific response to Sunday’s incident, when Gomes was challenged by Tottenham midfielder Son Heungmin. As yet, no Everton player has made a request.

However, the injury clearly affected all those who saw it. Cenk Tosun, who headed the equaliser at Goodison Park, shares a dining table at Finch Farm with Gomes, Seamus Coleman and Yerry Mina.

“Everyone is just so sad,” Tosun said. “The fans, us, the staff. We were all so upset. Some players, they nearly cried. I just went to Andre, I tried to help him to stay calm, but he was in shock. It will be a tough time for Andre but sometimes in football these injuries happen. I just hope and pray he comes back stronger in six months.

“We will give him the motivation he needs. The goal is for him, the point is for him. If we had a few minutes more, we would have won it for him. We were pressing and pressing. I was waiting such a long time for this goal and I could not even enjoy it. We are good friends.

“We could not even celebrate our point. It was a fair point and we deserved it. It was a tough game, after what had happened with going behind and then the incident with Andre and then the red card. But we showed great team spirit and it was a well-deserved point.”

In their statement, Everton expressed thanks for the many messages of support for Gomes from across the football world.

“Everton can confirm Andre Gomes underwent surgery to repair a fracture dislocation to his right ankle and the procedure went extremely well,” read a club statement. “The 26-year-old is expected to make a full recovery.”

Tottenham, meanwhile, have said they will rally round Son as the “broken” South Korea midfielder tries to come to terms with Gomes’s injury. Son was in tears following the incident, having slid in and clipped his opponent as they ran down the touchline. Spurs have lodged an appeal against the red card shown to Son by referee Martin Atkinson, who had initially brandished a yellow.

Everton captain Seamus Coleman – who suffered a double fracture of his lower leg while on international duty for the Republic of Ireland in March 2017 – went to console Son in the away dressing room. The north London club will offer Son their full support, which could also include counselling. “We will try to pick him up as much as we can,” said Spurs defender Ben Davies, who captained the side on Sunday in the absence of Harry Kane, who was ill.

“It is about making sure he realises he didn’t go out to hurt anyone, he thinks that people may see that in him, but it is not the case. Nobody goes on the pitch to hurt anyone, especially not somebody like Son, who is a bit broken, [trying] to deal with what has happened.”

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino felt the injury to Gomes led to an overreaction which resulted in a greater punishment for Son.