I never give up: Abdoulaye Doucoure enjoying new lease of life at Everton

On Friday, the 30-year-old extended his stay until the summer of 2025, less than a year after being frozen out and forced to train on his own by former manager Frank Lampard.

Sean Dyche wiped the slate clean when he replaced the former Chelsea boss at the end of January and Doucoure has flourished since, proving particularly effective as the most advanced midfielder playing off striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and scoring the goal on the final day of the season which ensured Everton™s survival.

"I™ve been in tough moments, to be honest. It was very hard for me but I never give up. Nobody can break me. I™m still here, fighting for the club. I have my new contract, so I™m very happy," he said.

"The new manager came and put me back in. Everyone in the club loves me. All of my career, I was always playing. I only had this problem with the previous manager, which wasn™t working.

"The priority was always to stay but I was at the end of the contract, and Everton had to make a decision. In the end, it worked well because my wish was always to stay and we found a good agreement.

"I™m still here, still happy, still alive and looking for more."

READ MORE: Tottenham's Ange Postecoglou calls for referee respect amid VAR controversy