FPL Injuries host and Sky Sports contributor Ben Dinnery has suggested Everton defender Ben Godfrey could be missing for three weeks after picking up an injury against Liverpool.
Godfrey was named in Frank Lampard’s starting XI for the Toffees’ crucial Premier League match against their fierce city rivals on Sunday, which they ultimately lost 2-0.
However, the former Norwich City man was injured in the warm-up, being replaced by Michael Keane 15 minutes before the beginning of the game. It was the second time this had happened to Everton in a matter of weeks, with Donny van de Beek also dropping out of the team shortly before the clash with West Ham United.
On the latest episode of FPL Injuries, Dinnery discussed how long Godfrey could be unavailable for. He said: “Ben Godfrey – he became the second Everton player within a matter of weeks to be forced off during the club’s warm-up, and again, a very similar injury to the one Donny van de Beek suffered. This is quadriceps – a thigh problem.
“We don’t know the severity of it; initial diagnosis suggests that it is very much like Donny’s, so if that’s the case, we’re maybe looking at somewhere in the region of maybe 10-14, possibly 21 days [out].”
TIF Thoughts on Godfrey
The last thing you want as a manager is to lose a player moments before kick-off, and for it to happen twice in such a short period of time will frustrate Lampard. Despite only having 18% possession, Everton reduced Liverpool to just four shots on target, so clearly, Keane replacing Godfrey did not have a negative impact on the side. His inclusion, however, was not the plan.
Will Everton stay up?
Yes
No
With Yerry Mina also struggling for fitness, Godfrey’s injury leaves Everton short in terms of centre-backs. Keane, Mason Holgate and Jarrad Branthwaite are the only fit players in that position, and Lampard will be crossing his fingers that none of them picks up an injury as the Toffees seek to secure survival.