Michael Ball has hailed Everton star Abdoulaye Doucoure as he continues to thrive under the management of Rafael Benitez.

The Frenchman has been in superb form at Goodison Park this term and has added both goals and assists to his game.

Indeed, Doucoure has already scored twice and laid on three assists at the beginning of the campaign.

The is the same tally he managed last season, in 29 games; this term, he has managed it in six.

It has been a series of incredible displays from the midfielder and Ball has credited both him and manager Benitez, believing that the latter has given Doucoure the freedom required to add another element to his game.

In total, the Frenchman has made £20m to secure his signature from their Premier League rivals back in September of 2020.

Ball said: “What Rafa said before the season is that, ‘yes, you’re good at that but you’ve got the engine to break the lines yourself. Go forward, start scoring goals, have a shot, get involved in the final third’, and he’s got the engine to do that.

“I think the first game of the season, he broke the ball down in our half and then he ended up scoring just outside the box against Southampton so he’s got that belief to go forward and get involved in the attacking play as well as the defensive role.”