Ellis Simms to undergo x-ray on Thursday as injury issues prolonged for Everton loanee
Ellis Simms has not had the injury luck he wanted since leaving Everton for Sunderland on loan this summer to try his luck in the Championship.
The 21-year-old had to be brought off by Black Cats manager Tony Mowbray during their 3-0 away win at Reading earlier this month and he has not featured since in the English second tier.
Simms is now set to have an x-ray on his injury on Thursday (29 September) to find out how long he should expect to be on the sidelines for.
“It’s his big toe, on the joint – he was struggling to push off and it’s numb at the moment,” Mowbray said, as quoted by the Sunderland Echo.
“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.”
Painful
This injury setback will be painful in more ways than one for Simms who was really starting to look the part at the Stadium of Light alongside Ross Stewart in the front two.
Three goals in eight appearances might not be the headline-grabbing form that Frank Lampard wanted to see from the 21-year-old England youth international but it is far from shameful in his first campaign at this level.
Losing the momentum of regular games could be a problem for Simms who looked so good for Hearts last season as the Jam Tarts’ main man up top.
His ability is undeniable and once he gets himself fit, he will have a very good chance to make it into the Toffees’ side upon his Merseyside return at the end of his loan spell.
But right now, that will feel like a very long way away so Everton talisman Dominic Calvert-Lewin should be asked by Lampard to go and help him in any way he can as he also tries to recover from injury at Finch Farm.