Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin ‘touch and go’ for Boxing Day return to action
Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be “touch and go” for a potential return to Premier League action against Wolves on Boxing Day, according to journalist Joe Thomas.
The Toffees number-nine was forced off the pitch in the 2-0 loss to Leicester City at the beginning of November, with Frank Lampard admitting he was struggling with injuries to his hamstring, shoulder and a small knock. [Liverpool Echo]
With Calvert-Lewin fast becoming an unreliable source of goals due to his rotten luck with injuries, goals have been hard to come by for Lampard’s side – with only Wolves failing to find the back of the net less than The Toffees this season.
When asked on Twitter whether the Englishman would be fit for Everton’s return to Premier League action after the World Cup break, Liverpool Echo journalist Thomas replied: “DCL will be touch and go for Wolves.
“The hope is he will be fit but I think experience has taught them to be cautious.”
Predicament
News that Calvert-Lewin could return for the Boxing Day encounter with Wolves is likely to leave Lampard in a bit of a predicament: Does he play him straight away, or does he gradually transition him back into the side?
The apparent problem for Lampard is that he doesn’t know where his goals are going to come from while the Englishman is on the sidelines, with Neal Maupay not posting the necessary number to start on a regular basis.
But if the striker is brought into the starting XI too soon, another injury is boundless to rule him out of the busy festive period.
Either way, the club’s hierarchy will be targeting the January transfer window as an opportunity to bring in some attacking reinforcements, which will subsequently take the pressure off Calvert-Lewin’s shoulders when he returns from injury.
Whether the Englishman can ever re-discover his potent best for Everton is up for debate, but a replacement forward is a necessity for Lampard and Farhad Moshiri in January.