Everton: Charlie Whitaker must capitalise as ‘delicate’ Lewis Dobbin update emerges
Sean Dyche must contemplate Charlie Whitaker’s involvement as Everton prepare to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Monday (15 April).
The 20-year-old’s last experience of senior football at Goodison Park came during the 2021/22 season, having been given a spot on the bench during a 1-1 draw against Manchester United.
Though he has been unable to make his debut for the first team, Whitaker’s performances at youth level should at least warrant his name being considered as a potential addition to Dyche’s squad.
Whitaker could replace Lewis Dobbin in the squad, with his fellow academy graduate not playing a single minute of football since the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on 9 March and facing injury.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, quoted by Liverpool Echo (13 April) Dyche refused to confirm a timescale for the 21-year-old’s return but revealed: “He’s making good progress.
“I wouldn’t want to give a timescale, but we are hopeful over the next couple of weeks at least that he can maybe get around the squad again, but we’ll see.
“It’s delicate. A straightforward injury in one way, but a delicate one to kind get the timing right to make sure it’s strong enough to continue.”
Sean Dyche must trust Charlie Whitaker with Everton debut
Although it was confirmed that Dobbin would not require surgery after suffering an ankle injury during Everton’s Portugal training camp, the young forward could still be out for some time.
Of course, with the negativity currently surrounding Goodison Park, Dyche will have wanted to sound as positive as possible with his squad, especially with all of his team needed for a relegation battle.
Having only started one Premier League match this season, 20-year-old Whitaker must take advantage of this situation and claim a spot in Dyche’s senior team.
As a versatile player, Whitaker can deputise anywhere on the pitch from centre-midfield to either flank to centre-forward, and can also play as a second striker.
He has notched three goals and one assist in eight Premier League 2 matches this season, following on from his fine form in the previous campaign, when he recorded three goals and four assists in 11 games.
Considering Abdoulaye Doucoure’s recent form, since returning from injury, the academy star could slot right into the first team, playing off Dominic Calvert-Lewin and bringing the wingers into the game.
In other Everton news, Tim Sherwood has been raging at a controversy from Goodison Park with “stupid” footage emerging.
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