The France international has been a key player for the Goodison Park outfit since joining from La Liga giants Barcelona for around £18m in the summer of 2018.
However, former Everton star Ball feels Digne is currently not at the level he used to be at and explained that his performances for Rafael Benitez’s side are below par.
Ball, who is aware of Digne’s abilities, pointed out how the left-back has stopped whipping crosses into the danger area and is also not doing enough as a defender.
The former Everton star explained that Digne has what it takes to be a top player for the Merseyside-based club, but stressed the need for him to get back to basics.
“I don’t want to be harsh on the guys because Lucas Digne has proven what a good player he is since coming to the football club but I don’t think he’s at that level right now“, Ball wrote in his Liverpool Echo column.
“In the past he’d be bombing forward and just putting the balls into the box but now he’s taking that extra touch to try and find a pass and keep possession rather than just whipping it into the danger zone.
“You don’t even have to look, just get it in there and trust your team-mates to be in the right place.
“But then also, defend first, it’s your job.
“He got away with it against Burnley. We could have already been trailing at half-time.
“I think there were six or seven crosses down the left hand side but not one was blocked.
“It looks like he just needs to get back to basics a little bit and we all know he’s got the ability to do that.
“He’s not hitting the heights that we expect from him right now but I like him as a player, he’s got everything you need to be a top player, which he is being a French international, but the level right now from him is a little below par.“
Digne has appeared in each of Everton’s six matches across all competitions so far this season, but is yet to register a single assist or goal.
