Abdoulaye Doucoure: Everton midfielder on Islam, Ramadan, Idrissa Gueye and Amadou Onana

On Wednesday evening, Muslims around the world begin Ramadan, fasting during daylight hours and aiming to connect with their faith.

These include the 253 Muslim players in the first teams and academies of English football’s top four tiers, who account for around 5% of the total, according to adviser Nujum Sports.

These players will juggle the rigors of the Islamic holy month with training schedules and games.

“I always love Ramadan,” Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure tells BBC Sport. “Sometimes it was difficult to play football because Ramadan was in the summer and in preparation.

“But I’ve always been lucky enough to practice Ramadan and I’ve never had any problems with my physical condition – I’m grateful for that.

“My religion is the most important thing in my life – I put my religion first, then my work. You can do both together and I’m happy with that.

“You have so much free time that when I’m at home I can always go to the mosque to pray and enjoy my religion.”

Born and raised in the Paris suburbs to Malian parents, Doucoure moved to England in 2016 when he joined Watford from Rennes.

An FA Cup final came in 2019 when the Hornets were beaten by Manchester City and when his club were relegated at the end of the following season he made a £20million move to the Toffees.

After another grueling training session under coach Sean Dyche, the 30-year-old Doucoure explains what his faith means to him at the club’s training ground.

“My family is a very religious family, so I’ve learned to be a good Muslim and that’s very important to me,” he says. “My faith has helped me to overcome many barriers, so it is very important to me.

“In football and in life you go through pain and disappointment. There’s always ups and downs in football – sometimes you don’t play, sometimes you’re hurt, but my faith has helped me through that. I’m grateful to God for giving me this strength has given.

“I always do dua [supplication], always pray for Allah to help us in games. Without my faith, I wouldn’t be in this position today.”

Doucoure lives with his family in Greater Manchester and regularly attends the local mosque, where other believers know he is a professional footballer and ‘greet him happily’.

That sense of belonging extends to the Premier League and England as a whole, with Doucoure describing it as “one of the best countries in Europe”.

When asked if he had found himself in any situation where his faith might be threatened, he replied: “We feel very confident here, very accepted and everything is there for Muslims to enjoy.

“In the Premier League you are free to do what suits you, they will never do anything against your beliefs and that is great.

“I was born and worked in France, but there is a big difference between France and England. The English are a great example.

“Sometimes you have to listen to people and understand what faith means to them. It’s not a choice – it’s important to us to protect our faith 100%.

“I’ve always wanted to be in the Premier League and I want to stay here for much longer. It’s the best league for Muslims.”

Everton are in a unique position compared to other clubs, with Doucoure, Idrissa Gueye and Belgium international Amadou Onana forming an all-Muslim midfield.

The trio maintain a “strong relationship” on and off the pitch, praying in the dressing room where Gueye serves as imam and attending the mosque for Jummah – Friday prayers.

Doucoure adds: “We speak the same language so we’re very close and we play together in midfield, which brings us even closer.

“We always pray together and ask for space to pray. People are very welcoming and give us the space. Idrissa usually leads because he’s older and has a good voice.”

And Doucoure puts footballing rivalries aside when asked about his sporting role models.

“I love Sadio Mane, I love Mohamed Salah,” he says of the Muslim couple, who formed a powerful attacking force for Liverpool before Mane joined Bayern Munich last summer.

“It’s not about football – you know the reality between clubs – but as a person I love it [Salah].

“As a footballer you always want to be a role model and Mohamed Salah is one of them. He’s doing well at his club so people love him but they also learn about his religion, Islam. He’s a good example for us and perfect .” .

“He’s good for society and I and my teammates can be a role model for others in the city [of Liverpool]that would be great.”

Everton’s Muslim players Doucoure, Onana, Gueye and Bosnian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic each have their own individual menus during Ramadan.

The club’s nutritionist, Lloyd Parker, recommends providing players with carbohydrates while respecting their cultural traditions.

Before the start of the early-morning fast, a typical meal consisted of porridge, eggs or jam on toast and fruit juice – and for away games, a tray was left outside the players’ bedrooms.

They tend to enjoy a three-course evening meal with minestrone soup for a starter, a pasta or rice dish for the main, and apple crumble or jam rolls to finish.

“I fast every day, I don’t miss a day,” says Doucoure. “It has become normal and very easy for me. I started fasting when I was 12 or 13 and now I’m 30. I know my body very well – I have a good breakfast beforehand, it helps me through the day.

“The training is still the same during Ramadan, but if we go away we might have to eat later than the others, so the chef prepares the food for us and makes sure everything is the same as at home. We get halal food so there is no problem.

“During Ramadan, the family gets together to break the fast and then we go to the mosque for Taraweeh [evening prayers]. I love this time because you also meet some new people – Ramadan is a good moment for Muslims to connect with our faith.

“Reading and learning more from the Qur’an is something I always do and during Ramadan all Muslims need to step up that.”