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Sean Dyche challenges Abdoulaye Doucoure to earn himself a new Everton deal after being impressed by the resurgent midfielder, who was on the verge of leaving in January following dressing room clash with former boss Frank Lampard

Sean Dyche has challenged Abdoulaye Doucoure to earn himself an extended stay at Everton after being impressed by the midfielder's resurgent form.

Doucoure, a Mali international, was on the verge of leaving Goodison Park in January. He had been banished to training on his own by former manager Frank Lampard, due to a poor attitude and a dressing room confrontation, and it seemed as if he would join Fulham before the window closed.

But Dyche immediately put Doucoure into his starting line-up for his first game against Wednesday's opponents Arsenal and was rewarded with a display that few saw coming; the 30-year-old has continued to show up prominently in the games that have followed.