Rafa Benitez claims DCL still needs ‘two or three weeks’ as return for Everton nears
Everton manager Rafa Benitez admits he could be forced into taking a risk with Dominic Calvert-Lewin if the Blues’ Boxing Day clash with Burnley goes ahead.
As it stands, the game will be going ahead with the Premier League already rejecting Everton’s request to postpone the fixture.
Benitez has 11 players unavailable for the Toffees’ trip to Turf Moor on Sunday (December 26), with five returning positive covid tests accompanied with six injuries.
DCL hasn’t featured since Everton played Brighton back in August (28) due to a quadricep injury.
Speaking to the ECHO, Benitez said: “In the case of any player who has been out for around two months, he can be ‘fit’ but I was explaining about match fitness and fitness.
“When it comes to playing a game that is totally different. It will take time for him to have the sharpness you have to have in a game.
“Physically he is fine, he has been training with the team. Still it is a risk because you cannot overload these players.
The Spaniard added: “For Dominic to be fully fit he will still need, for me, two or three weeks.
“That will give him match fitness and maybe a bit more to ensure he is at his maximum but the good thing about football is that sometimes when you cannot run you can still score the winning goal and that is massive for your confidence and everyone else.”
Clinical
Everton will be overjoyed with the news Calvert-Lewin is nearing a return.
He finished last season as top goalscorer for the Blues with 21 in all competitions, something Benitez will look to carefully use as he looks to turn things around on Merseyside during the second half of the season.
Is this too much of a burden for the 24-year-old? Four of Everton’s six senior forwards are currently injured so the cry for goals will fall very loudly on DCL’s ears.
Something I’m sure he will relish being a natural goal scorer and spending so long on the side-line, wishing he could make an impact.
It is crucial that despite the Toffees being desperate, Benitez manages Calvert-Lewin’s game time as he returns to action. The last thing Everton need is the England international aggravating his calf or picking up another injury because he was rushed back.
The return of Calvert-Lewin is a huge boost for the Ev as they look to start the new year with a bang.
In other Everton news, Paul Merson predicts result of Everton clash against Burnley.