Everton injury news as Sean Dyche confirms Andros Townsend not close to return
Sean Dyche has shared an update on Everton winger Andros Townsend claiming the Englishman is “not close” to being available for selection.
Townsend has been injured for almost a year with an ACL injury and it seems that the midfielder needs even more time to recover.
The 31-year-old hasn’t played for the Toffees since his injury occurred in an FA Cup clash defeat to Crystal Palace in March 2022.
“Andros Townsend ‘is not close’ to being available. He is going along ‘steadily’ and situation ‘calming’ after setbacks,” said Liverpool Echo journalist Joe Thomas on Twitter. (9 March, 1:54 PM)
“Dyche says, but adds he deliberately didn’t mention him when earlier asked about player availability.”
End of the road.
It’s hard to see Townsend coming back into the fold at Goodison Park and making any real type of impact in the coming years.
The pacey winger is on the wrong side of 30 and suffering a catastrophic ACL injury this late in his career will only be detrimental to his performance.
Dyche may look to completely freeze out Townsend if he doesn’t return to action anytime soon with the midfielder’s contract coming to an end this summer.
It would have been great to see Townsend return as the Blues fight off relegation and he could have been a real asset in the coming weeks towards that fight.
Nevertheless, this latest “not close” verdict seems to suggest that Townsend will be playing little to no part in the upcoming months of play at Goodison Park.
It would be a sad way to end things for Townsend on Merseyside who when fit and firing was a top player to have in and around the squad but unfortunately, the Blues must move on to younger, fresher talents.