Early Everton team news v Watford: three key doubts ruled out, one fit
Frank Lampard has given the latest Everton injury update ahead of the Blues’ clash with Watford on Wednesday [May 11].
The Toffees have four Premier League games left as they look to avoid relegation – sitting in 16thone point ahead of Burnely and Leeds with a game in hand.
Vitaliy Mykolenko and Yerry Mina were forced off in the win against Leicester last time out with Donny van de Beek and Ben Godfrey also facing a race against time to be fit ahead of the next game.
Lampard said in his pre-Watford press conference: “Myko is good. Mykelonko – cramp in the calves so he will be good.
“Yerry is not, he’s got a small, small injury in his calf so he won’t be playing this game.”
He added: “Donny is not ready – we are hoping he will be ready for next week’s games, potentially the weekend.
“With Ben, similar. Ben is working with every ounce of sweat and bone in his body to be fit and take part in the run-in and that is the sort of attitude we need.”
Fight.
Mina missing is a big blow, yet again. Everton just need to accept that he won’t play a key part in the relegation scrap from now until the end of the season.
He has suffered all season long with injuries, seemingly never able to remain fit.
The Columbian showed just how important he was against Chelsea and it is soul-destroying to lose him yet again, but the squad will have to pull together and fight.
Mykolenko only having calf cramps does level the playing field somewhat. The Ukraine international has really found his feet of late.
His goal against Leicester was the perfect example of how far he has come and thankfully, his progression will not be hindered by an injury.
Godfrey and van de Beek have spent a little more time on the injury table and aren’t necessarily fresh blows which makes them not being involved easier to take – hopefully, they will be back and helping the squad soon, especially Godfrey with Mina now out.
In other Everton news, Martin Keown says that Everton must respond to a “tremendous body blow” in their “phenomenal” relegation war.
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