Pat Nevin reacts as Ben Godfrey suffers injury blow in Everton loss v Chelsea
Everton started their new campaign with a 1-0 defeat against Chelsea at Goodison Park on Saturday (6 August) in the Premier League.
A first-half penalty from Jorginho separated the two sides. The Toffees fought brilliantly in the first half, but a moment of stupidity from Abdoulaye Doucoure had ruined all the good work.
In the first half, the Toffees were rocked by the injury sustained by Ben Godfrey. He was taken off on a stretcher following a challenge on Kai Havertz.
Pat Nevin, who was commenting on the game for BBC Radio 5, suggested that it was a “fair” challenge, and it’s a “real shame” that the defender who will be out of action for a while.
“It was an incredibly strong challenge but I thought it was a fair one. I was talking to Everton fans before the game and I said as long as they keep everybody fit, they’ve got a good, strong looking defence and that’s lasted 10 minutes. It’s a real shame,” said Nevin, as relayed by BBC Sport.
Massive blow
It all started with a. Poor pass from Godfrey to Jordan Pickford.
The England goalkeeper in an attempt to prevent the corner swept the ball to keep it in. The play went on with Kai Havertz in possession inside the box.
Godfrey then made a crucial tackle, but it ended in a disaster for himself and the club. He was taken to a hospital immediately for assessment.
The highly-talented defender had missed the final seven games of last season.
He worked extremely hard on his fitness during the summer, but such was his luck that he will have to sit on the sidelines for a longer spell.
Frank Lampard confirmed after the game that the 24-year-old has fractured his leg.
Godfrey has suffered a “small fracture” of the fibula bone and will be out for “months rather than weeks” [BBC Sport].
Yerry Mina has also picked up an injury, but it is the absence of Godfrey that will hurt the Toffees most.