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Lucas Digne was named Everton’s Player of the Season in 2018/19.

As is customary for a new signing who emerges in such an outrageous manner, it was always going to be difficult for the Frenchman to replicate those performances in his second term.

However, while Digne has not consistently lived up to the heights of his first season on Merseyside, there is much to be said for his consistency over the two years.

The drop-off in form has been marginal - and perhaps exacerbated by the underperforming team around him - and Digne has proven that he can be more than just a flash in the pan.

In fact, dig below the basic statistics and his second season has been almost as good as his first, both of which equate to being an elite Premier League full-back.

Digne ended the 2018/19 season with four goals and assists apiece. This season, he has no goals but five assists. However, his expected goals per 90 minutes and expected assists per 90 are exactly the same as last season, 0.04 and 0.18 respectively.

Similarly, his pass completion rate is only 1.7% worse, he created 0.16 chances per 90 minutes more and played 0.53 more progressive passes per 90.

Defensively, he ranks similarly for successful tackles per 90, blocks per 90, interceptions per 90 and pressures per 90.

He has not performed at quite the same level as last season, that should be said, but the statistics portray only a marginal drop-off. And playing with such consistency over an extended period of time changes everything.

Digne is no longer a good player having a great season; he is an elite player performing at the level expected of him.

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The Frenchman also stacks up well against his Premier League peers, especially from an offensive standpoint. Only Trent Alexander-Arnold plays more progressive passes - Digne actually ranks third in the league irrespective of position, which is truly sensational.

Only Andy Robertson and Alexander-Arnold have a higher expected assists per 90, while only Alexander-Arnold has created more chances per 90 and produced more shot-creating-actions per 90, those defined as an action (pass, dribble, shot, winning a foul) that led to a shot with two more actions.

Digne also ranks seventh in goal-creating-actions per 90, the same statistic but leading to a goal not a shot. The difference between the two rankings helps illustrate the hurdles he has had to overcome in comparison to other defenders.

While he ranks second in shot-creating-actions per 90, of the six full-backs in front of him in goal-creating-actions per 90, two play for Liverpool, two more play for Leicester City, and the final two are both wing-backs and are provided with more offensive freedom.

Liverpool and Leicester have scored 66 and 58 goals respectively. Everton have totalled only 37.

Where Digne has dipped from last season is his crossing and passes into the most dangerous areas of the pitch. This campaign, he played 0.26 fewer passes into the penalty area per 90 minutes, ranking 11th for full-backs in the Premier League.

Similarly, Digne actually played 0.21 crosses more per 90 minutes this season than last, but significantly, 0.23 fewer reached the penalty area, which ranks ninth in the league.

Digne was at his best last season when pushing forward and whipping dangerous crosses into the penalty area. He has still been capable in this area this year, but rekindling that wicked left foot from wide positions will be crucial.,

Nevertheless, Digne has followed up a brilliant first campaign with an efficient and effective second.

In a modern game that is increasingly leaning on the attacking qualities of the full-backs, Digne is perfectly moulded. So much so that he is now a member of the Premier League’s elite.