Sean Dyche provides Dominic Calvert-Lewin fitness update for Everton v Fulham
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is unlikely to feature against Fulham when the Premier League gets back underway, according to his manager Sean Dyche.
Calvert-Lewin has been plagued by injuries over the past two seasons, appearing on just 36 occasions in all competitions during that time.
The 26-year-old is in the process of returning from his most recent setback, a hamstring issue, and played 45 minutes against AC Monza on Tuesday 1 August before completing 45 minutes against Sporting Lisbon on Saturday 5 August.
And his goal from the penalty spot proved to be the difference as the Toffees rounded off their pre-season preparations with an impressive 1-0 victory over Ruben Amorim’s men.
However, despite getting some minutes under his belt, Dyche confirmed after the match that the forward was unlikely to feature during his side’s Premier League opener against Fulham at Goodison Park on Saturday 12 August.
“I doubt it because the games programme hasn’t been achieved yet; he has played two 45-minute games, so therefore we have to keep building him up because we cannot go down the cycle of events from the last two years; we have to break it,” Dyche told the media, as reported by the Liverpool Echo (6 August).
“We tried to break it last season; we nearly got there, but it didn’t quite work. Now we have to be cautious to make sure that he is well, which he is.
“You saw that today, but we have to make sure he is over everything and clear-minded and his body is clear as well. All problems can be remedied in the human body; it is just some bodies take longer than others.”
Slow and steady
It will be refreshing for Evertonians to find out that Dyche is taking his time to embed Calvert-Lewin back into the squad and is allowing him to get back up to speed, rather than rushing his return which could then cause further damage down the line.
The striker is a key player for the club and has come up with some big goals down the years, and fans will want to see him get back to playing regularly and putting the past two seasons behind him.
Although, despite being patient, Dyche will no doubt be desperate to have the striker back and match-fit as soon as possible given his men’s recent issues in front of goal.
Only Wolves scored on fewer occasions in the Premier League last season and even though he won’t be ready in time for Fulham, everyone connected with Everton will hope he is back and scoring sooner rather than later.
In other Everton news, a youngster at the club is set for crunch talks regarding his future.