By Joe Ellis

15th Sep, 2022 | 2:43pm

Everton striker Ellis Simms set for x-ray after Sunderland injury setback

Everton striker Ellis Simms will have to undergo an x-ray to determine the extent of an injury sustained while on loan at Sunderland.

The 21-year-old was brought off after just 37 minutes in the Black Cats’ 3-0 win away at Reading on Wednesday evening after suffering a knock to his big toe.

New Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray confirmed the damning news after the full-time whistle at the Select Car Leasing Stadium which leaves his future at the club up in the air.

“It’s his big toe, on the joint – he was struggling to push off and it’s numb at the moment,” he said to Sunderland’s official club website.

“We’ll probably x-ray that tomorrow (Thursday) and fingers crossed it’s not a break or a dislocation. It wasn’t ideal losing Ellis, he brings us a physicality and he’s key at defending set pieces, as well.”

Fingers crossed

Frank Lampard will be joining Mowbray and Evertonians everywhere that his injury is not one that will sideline him for a long time because he needs to be playing every week.

His start to life at the Stadium of Light has been very good, even if Ross Stewart has outscored him so far this campaign, and he is doing everything right to make the jump to Premier League football next season.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin will have been looking at the Championship and Simms’ electric start in fear that his position would be under threat at Goodison Park and Neal Maupay’s arrival won’t help that either.

Lampard will have a plan to bring Simms into the senior Everton squad next season but only if the regular playing time continues and that won’t happen if he’s injured.

Perhaps he should ask Mowbray to monitor his game time where possible to avoid any unnecessary issues arising in what is a very important year for the 21-year-old.