Injury expert Ben Dinnery has given his verdict on Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury issues.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Dinnery said that the club need to be ‘seeing him back with the group at some point this week’ if he is to be involved on Boxing Day.
Calvert-Lewin last played for Everton in their 2-0 defeat to Leicester City on 5th November. The forward suffered a knee injury earlier in the season and missed eight Premier League matches, while he didn’t travel with the club on their mid-season tour of Australia.
Dinnery stated: “We’re yet to see Dominic Calvert-Lewin training with the squad down at Finch Farm. Now, we know that he ended the first half of the campaign with knee, hamstring and shoulder problems.
“Frank Lampard was hopeful that the striker would be back in contention, but as it currently stands, he didn’t go on the club’s mid-season tour of Australia, he remained at home and he’s still working individually within the gym.
“Again, we need to be seeing him back with the group at some point this week to force his way into contention for Gameweek 17.”
TIF Thoughts on Dinnery’s comments…
Everton won’t want to risk bringing Calvert-Lewin back early, as this is a player who’s had a number of injury problems throughout his career.
We believe that the injury situation seems very touch-and-go and it appears likely we might not see him until 2023.
With the Englishman and Neal Maupay at their disposal, the Toffees perhaps need to look for another striker in the January transfer window – particularly after allowing Salomon Rondon to leave. Between them, Calvert-Lewin and Maupay have one Premier League goal each this term.
According to the Daily Mail (via Goodison News), Everton have an interest in Nicolas Jackson of Villarreal. The Senegalese striker has two goals and two assists in La Liga.
It’s a return that is unlikely to excite many fans, especially when he has no experience in the Premier League. Jackson is only 21 years old, so perhaps Frank Lampard believes he can develop him into a top Premier League forward.