‘Rest him up’ – Exclusive: Campbell issues Rodriguez warning to Everton
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Kevin Campbell has insisted that Everton shouldn’t rush James Rodriguez back from injury with the Colombian suffering from yet another knock.
James’ debut Premier League season has been impressive but also blighted by injuries and he missed out on the FA Cup win over Tottenham on Wednesday.
Campbell believes that he shouldn’t be rushed back for this weekend’s game against Fulham if the star midfielder isn’t ready.
Speaking to Goodison News, Campbell said, “This is a player who hasn’t had a lot of game time.
“Now we’re in the winter things are starting to get a bit tougher, it’s cold. Teams are starting to exert a lot more energy and sometimes it catches up with the body.
“If he can’t be involved then fair enough you’ve got to rest him up and get him right for the next league game.”
We can’t afford for Rodriguez to aggravate his injury and we should be able to get a win against relegation threatened Fulham with relative ease without him.
The Cottagers gave us a good game earlier in the season but we have improved since then and Carlo Ancelotti will be eyeing a return to winning ways in the league.
Rodriguez is an injury doubt as is Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lucas Digne who both picked up knocks in the win over Spurs.
Hopefully these knocks are nothing serious so we can avoid a repeat of the injury crisis that blighted us earlier in the season.
Even with DCL and Digne potentially missing out we can’t afford to rush James back, we need him in the hunt for a top four finish so no risks can be taken with his fitness.
In other Everton news, we are reportedly keeping an eye on a young Aston Villa star.